SYSTEM FOR OIL RECOVERY AND TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER UTILIZING PHOTOELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION

1 . A system for removing and recovering oil from contaminated water, the system comprising:

an assembly;

a gun barrel oil/water separator in fluid communication with the assembly; and

a dissolved air floatation tank in fluid communication with the assembly;

wherein the assembly comprises:

a first light source having a longitudinal axis;

a plurality of second light sources provided about a line concentric to the longitudinal axis of the first light source;

a first photoelectrode provided between the first light source and plurality of second light sources;

a second photoelectrode provided around the second light sources;

at least one counterelectrode provided between the first photoelectrode and the second photoelectrode;

wherein the first photoelectrode and second photoelectrode each comprise a primarily titanium foil support with a layer of titanium dioxide provided on at least one surface the photoelectrode; and

wherein the first photoelectrode, second photoelectrode and at least one counterelectrode are each coupled to a respective terminal adapted to be electrically coupled to a power supply.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bulkhead coupled to the at least one counterelectrode and first and second light sources.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein there at least three second light sources provided about a line concentric to the longitudinal axis of the first light source.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein there are five second light sources provided about a line concentric to the longitudinal axis of the first light source.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein there are six second light sources provided about a line concentric to the longitudinal axis of the first light source.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light sources comprise a light sleeve and end cap and wherein the end cap is removeably coupled to the bulkhead member.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer, the spacer comprising a peripheral concentric portion coupled to an axial concentric portion by at least one divider.

8 . A system for removing and recovering oil from contaminated water, the system comprising:

an assembly;

a gun barrel oil/water separator in fluid communication with the assembly; and

a dissolved air floatation tank in fluid communication with the assembly;

wherein the assembly comprises:

a plurality of light sources spaced in a radial array between a first photoelectrode and a second photoelectrode;

at least one counterelectrode provided between the first photoelectrode and the second photoelectrode;

wherein the first photoelectrode and second photoelectrode each comprise a primarily titanium foil support with a layer of titanium dioxide provided on at least one surface the photoelectrode; and

wherein the first photoelectrode, second photoelectrode and at least one counterelectrode are each coupled to a respective terminal adapted to be electrically coupled to a power supply.

9 . The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a longitudinal axis and a light source provided about the longitudinal axis.

10 . The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a bulkhead coupled to the at least one counterelectrode and the light sources.

11 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein there are more than three light sources spaced in a radial array between a first photoelectrode and a second photoelectrode;

12 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein there are five light sources spaced in a radial array between a first photoelectrode and a second photoelectrode;

13 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein there are six light sources spaced in a radial array between a first photoelectrode and a second photoelectrode;

14 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first and second light sources comprise a light sleeve and end cap and wherein the end cap is removeably coupled to the bulkhead member.

15 . The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a spacer provided between the first photoelectrode and the second photoelectrode, the spacer comprising a peripheral concentric portion coupled to an axial concentric portion by at least one divider.

16 . A system for removing and recovering oil from contaminated water, the system comprising:

an assembly;

a gun barrel oil/water separator in fluid communication with the assembly; and

a dissolved air floatation tank in fluid communication with the assembly;

wherein the assembly comprises:

a housing member having first opposing end and a second opposing end and at least partially defining a cavity having a cavity wall and a cavity longitudinal axis;

a first light source provided within the cavity;

a first photoelectrode provided between the first light source and the cavity wall;

a second photoelectrode provided between the first photoelectrode and the cavity wall;

a plurality of second light sources provided between the first photoelectrode and the second photoelectrode;

a counterelectrode provided between the first photoelectrode and the cavity wall;

wherein the first photoelectrode and second photoelectrode each comprises a primarily titanium foil support with a layer of titanium dioxide provided on at least one surface the photoelectrode; and

wherein the first photoelectrode, second photoelectrode and counterelectrode are each coupled to a respective terminal adapted to be electrically coupled to a power supply.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first light source is provided about the cavity longitudinal axis.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second light sources are spaced symmetrically around the cavity longitudinal axis.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first photoelectrode is provided around the first light source.

20 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second photoelectrode is provided around the plurality of second light sources.