Hydrocarbon removal from bilgewater by a combination of air-stripping and photocatalysis

► Bilge water is an oily effluent that contaminates oceans and seas (MARPOL73/78). ► Hydrocarbon removal was studied by photocatalysis and air-stripping, together used. ► Both aqueous and gaseous phases were monitored by GC-MS during the process. ► The combined process showed a better efficiency and a synergistic effect. ► N-Alkanes (NC > 15) appeared as being the most refractory compounds.