EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF A PILOT-SCALE MEMBRANE FILTRATION SYSTEM FOR OILY WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Date
2022-11-25
Authors
Keyvan Hosseini, Parisa
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Abstract
In this study, a pilot-scale submerged membrane filtration system using hollow fiber (HF) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes was experimentally investigated to treat synthetic oily seawater containing heavy crude oil (Cold Lake Dilbit (CLD)) and light crude oil (Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)). In this research project, the effect of different operating parameters such as aeration flow rate and membrane flux using different initial oil concentrations on the ultrafiltration (UF) membrane performance was examined. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal efficiency was found to be more than 91%. The results from the experiments met MARPOL 73/78 regulation which defines the oil content in the treated water does not exceed 15 ppm. Different fractions of petroleum and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were reduced as well. The overall performance of this system in treatment of synthetic oily seawater proves its promising capability as an onsite treatment technology in oil spill response operations.
Description
The risk of oil spill pollution is on the increase due to high number of oil tankers travelling through Canada’s exclusive economic zone. When oil releases into the ocean, carcinogenic and persistent components enter the marine environment which have adverse effects. Onsite treatment is essential to cope with environmental issues and improve oil spill clean-up operations. The present zero discharge policy restricts temporary storage space on barges, increasing the trips to shore to transfer the wastewater to an intermediate storage facility; this negatively impacts on the oil spill clean-up operation efficacy. A pilot-scale membrane filtration system would be an appropriate approach to inefficiencies of oil spill response since this technology can filter the oily wastewater onsite in accordance with the MARPOL 73/78 regulation, and then discharge the treated water back to the ocean.
Keywords
Membrane Filtration Technology