A thermal desorption unit (TDU) can effectively convert oil-contaminated soil and sludge (including tank bottom sludge, refinery sludge, and landing sludge) into usable fuel oil through a non-incineration process. The system integrates decanter centrifuge separation, thermal washing, and pyrolysis technology to fully separate hydrocarbons from solids, while the remediated soil and sludge can be safely reused or backfilled on-site — fully meeting governmental environmental standards. For oil sludge treatment projects, this means turning a costly disposal liability into a profitable, sustainable resource recovery process.
Thermal desorption is a physical remediation technology used to treat soils, sludge, and other contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons organic compounds.
Are you facing these challenges in your oil sludge and industrial waste management projects? We have the solution. Our advanced thermal desorption system is engineered to process complex soil/oil sludge into valuable fuel oil in a harmless way, while helping you successfully secure local EIA approval.
Beston’s TDU is designed to process oil sludge/soil from oil extraction, oil transportation, and oil refining. The table below lists the specific sludge types under each source, along with their typical water, oil, and solid content ratios.
| Source | Type | Water Content % | Oil Content % | Solid Content % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(Global share: 40%) | Oil-based Cuttings | 8~15 | 15~25 | 60~80 |
| Waste Oil-based Mud | 40~50 | 10~20 | 30~40 | |
| Oil-contaminated Soil | 5~25 | 5~10 | 70~90 | |
(Global share: 15%) | Tank Bottom Oil Sludge | 40-70 | 20-40 | 5-40 |
| Oil-contaminated Soil | 5~25 | 5~10 | 70~90 | |
(Global share: 30%) | Oil-water Separator Sludge | 60~70 | 10~15 | 25~35 |
| Air Flotation Tank Sludge | 75~90 | 5~10 | 3~10 | |
| Activated Oil Sludge | 75~85 | ＜5 | 10~20 |
We do not process pure, highly fluid liquids, including: used engine oils, pure liquid lubricants, synthetic chemicals, or solvents without solid debris.
TDU unit can recover high-value oil and solid residue from waste oil sludge, which can be utilized in the following downstream applications:
Source: pyrolysis+ distillation
Applications:
Source: pyrolysis+ distillation
Applications:
Source: non-pyrolyzable solid discharge
Applications:
Beston Group manufactures three types of TDU — each engineered for a different production scale. Below, we would like to introduce the key higlights, capacity range, and ideal application scenarios for each type to help you match the right pyrolysis plant to your project requirements.
| Model | Blackgold P30 | BLJ-20 | BLJ-16 TDU | BLJ-16 Standard | BLJ-16 ULTRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BESTON | BESTON | BESTON | BESTON | BESTON |
| Time to Market | 2026 | 2025 | 2013 | 2013 | 2022 |
| Motor Brand | Chinese brand | Chinese brand | Chinese brand | Chinese brand | ABB Explosion-proof |
| Suitable Raw Materials | Waste plastics; Tires; Oil sludge | Waste plastics; Tires; Oil sludge | Oil sludge; Landing oil sludge; Drilling waste; Tank bottom oil sludge | Whole tire Tire blocks Oil soil with liquid content | Waste plastics; Tires; Oil sludge |
| Input Capacity (Max.) | Waste plastic pellets: 0.8-1.05t/h; Rubber powder: 1.25-1.5t/h; Oil sludge:1.8-2.3t/h | Waste plastic pellets: 12-13t/d; Tire: 18-20t/d; Oil sludge:20-25t/d | 16-18t/batch | Whole tire Sidewall removed tire: 15-16t/batch; Oil soil: 16-18t/batch | Waste plastic bales: 8-10t/batch; Whole tire Sidewall removed tire: 15-16t/batch; Oil sludge: 16-18t/batch |
| Working Method | Fully Continuous | Batch | Batch | Batch | Batch |
| Final Oil Quality | Pyrolysis oil; Pyrolysis oil with wax or naphtha; Gasoline blending components | Pyrolysis oil; Non-standard diesel and naphtha | Pyrolysis oil | Pyrolysis oil | Pyrolysis oil; Pyrolysis oil with wax or naphtha |
| Reactor Material | 304/310S Stainless steel | Q345R Boiler steel and 304/316L/310S Stainless steel | 304 Stainless steel | Q345R Boiler steel | 304 Stainless steel |
| Reactor Life Span (Years) | 5-8 Years | Q345R Boiler steel: 2-3 Years; 304/316L Stainless steel: 5-8 Years; 310S Stainless steel: 8-10 Years | 5-8 Years | 2-3 Years | 5-8 Years |
| Guarantee (Months) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Delivery Time (Calendar Days) | 60-90 | 60 | 60 | 45 | 90 |
| Land Space Required (L*W*H*m) | 50*20*10 | 40*13*8 | 33*13*8 | 33*13*8 | 33*26*8 |
| Packing | 20*6*3m in bulk+13*40HQ | 1*40FR+4*40HQ | 1*40FR+3*40HQ | 1*40FR+3*40HQ | 1*40FR+8*40HQ |
| Installation Period (Calendar Days) | 60-90 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 60 |
To remove impurities and lower the moisture content of soil/oil sludge, Beston Group integrates an advanced pre-treatment system: decanter centrifuging with thermal washing, boosting overall oil sludge pyrolysis efficiency by 200% ⬆️.
Explore the complete operational process of the P30 thermal desorption system through the video and step-by-step process analysis below:
Through thermal washing and decanter centrifugation pretreatment, impurities and part of the water are removed from the oil sludge. The treated oil sludge then enters the silo. Depending on the moisture content of the sludge, three flexible methods are available to convey it into the reactor:
After 2–3 hours, the reactor reaches 110 °C, starting to yield water vapor and initial oil gas. As the temperature rises to 280–350 °C, large volumes of oil gas are rapidly generated and separated into heavy and light fractions based on their boiling points.
Elite International, an Omani company, focuses on oil sludge treatment. As environmental regulations tighten, traditional low-cost disposal methods no longer meet compliance standards. To avoid penalties and improve its corporate image, the company is adopting Beston’s thermal desorption treatment solutions. Currently, the project has become a regional benchmark, promoting sustainable waste management and offering a cutting-edge and environmentally friendly solution for oil sludge treatment in Oman.
Since its successful operation on December 10, 2024, the project has been running stably.
On January 23, 2025, we received a tank bottom sludge sample from a client for oil yield testing. After testing, we provided exact oil output data for the client to evaluate project feasibility and calculate ROI. Below are the controlled test results for technical reference:
| Composition | Unit/g | Ratio/% |
|---|---|---|
| Oil | 125g | 58.7% |
| Slag | 8.5g | 4.00% |
| Water | 65g | 30.5% |
| Composition | Unit/g | Ratio/% |
|---|---|---|
| Oil | 90.5g | 45.25% |
| Slag | 21g | 10.5% |
| Water | 66.5g | 33.25% |
Download Test Report
Note: See more oil sludge test reports for project assessment.
Full use of syngas: The entire system makes full use of the syngas generated in the reactor for secondary combustion. This reduces energy consumption. Combustible gas is purified by water seal to ensure clean combustion.
Beston Group’s thermal desorption equipment is fully certified with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and CE certification, guaranteeing stable quality, strict environmental compliance, and adherence to top safety standards.
Beston Group successfully hosted two consecutive Oil Sludge Harmless Treatment Technology Exchange Conferences at the Elite International project site in June 2025 and February 2026. During the conferences, Omani government officials and international industry leaders gathered to observe the live operation of Beston’s TDU equipment, gaining firsthand insights into our capability in oil sludge harmless treatment and resource recovery. These events not only fostered international collaboration, but also accelerated the global adoption of sustainable oil sludge pyrolysis solutions.
Beston Group provides high-performance thermal desorption systems through customized technical engineering, rigorous manufacturing standards, and dedicated operational expertise for global investors.
Oil sludge is classified as hazardous waste worldwide under strict regulations like China’s Technical Policy, the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, and U.S. RCRA. Thermal desorption ensures total compliance to avoid severe penalties while qualifying operators for government disposal subsidies and tax relief.
Untreated oil sludge poses severe environmental contamination and operational fire hazards. Thermal desorption unit is the suitable solution that neutralizes toxic organic components and drastically cuts waste volume, converting dangerous hazardous sludge into clean, non-toxic solids for safe on-site reuse or discharge.
Thermal desorption equipment enables resource utilization by converting waste oil sludge into high-value fuel oil and clean solids. Beyond pyrolysis oil sales, investors can build a profitable business model by charging third-party disposal fees to oil fields and refineries lacking disposal capacity.
Modern industrial investors and capital markets demand clean, circular waste management solutions. Unlike traditional landfilling which lowers environmental ratings, thermal desorption recovers valuable resources to align projects with strict global ESG standards, simplifying project funding and elevating corporate brand reputation.
When evaluating thermal desorption system for oil sludge treatment, selecting the optimal configuration is critical to project ROI, environmental compliance, and operational stability. Commercial TDU technologies vary significantly based on their heating mechanism and processing location:
| Thermal Desorption Unit Type | Application Site | Representative Equipment | Technical Principle & Features | Primary Output & Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Heating Unit | Ex-situ Treatment | Direct-Fired Rotary Kiln | • Heat source or combustion gases directly contact material. • It ensures rapid heat transfer, but generates massive off-gas volumes with explosion risks. | • Primarily for soil volume reduction and decontamination; • Cannot recover high-purity pyrolysis oil. |
| Indirect Heating Unit | In-situ Treatment | Electrical Thermal Well / Blanket System | No excavation required, heats subsurface soil to volatilize contaminants, which are then extracted and routed to downstream treatment systems. | • On-site soil remediation; • Extracts and filters volatile oil gas; • Cannot achieve resource recovery of pyrolysis oil. |
| Ex-situ Treatment | Sealed Indirect Heating TDU Reactor | • Indirect thermal conduction through reactor wall. • Zero contact between material and combustion gases. • Efficiently pyrolyzes and condenses oil sludge under a controlled, sealed high-temperature environment. | • Remediation; • High-value pyrolysis oil recovery |
Note: in-situ treatment: Thermal desorption occurs directly at the contaminated site without excavation; ex-situ treatment: Contaminated materials are excavated and processed in a controlled facility.
For eco-friendly, compliant, and sustainable soil/oil sludge treatment, choose Beston’s solutions!
Beston Group’s TDU adopts indirectly heated, ex-situ treatment process, suitable for LTTD & HTTD.
Note: Actual operating temperatures depend on oil sludge types (e.g., landing sludge or centrifuged sludge), chemical composition (e.g., resin and asphaltene content), moisture levels, and heating rates.
Want to dive deeper into oil sludge pyrolysis technology, compliance trends, and market profitability? Explore our latest industry articles below:
Beston Group thermal desorption unit has become the optimal choice for contaminated soil and oil sludge treatment. Our innovative technology helps customers extract economic value from oil sludge. Furthermore, integrated solutions guide customers from A to Z on their path to sustainable development. Just contact us to get your free customized solution. Also, you can follow us on Linkedin for more oil sludge recycling information.