Removal optimization of heavy metals from effluent of sludge dewatering process in oil and gas well drilling by nanofiltration. (1st December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hedayatipour, Mostafa; Jaafarzadeh, Neemat; Ahmadmoazzam, Mehdi
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 203:Part 1(2017)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2017-12-01
• Subjects: Nanofiltration -- Heavy metal -- Thaguchi method -- Well drilling industry -- Wastewater treatment; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.070
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Oil and gas well drilling industries discharge large volumes of contaminated wastewater produced during oil and gas exploration process. In this study, the effect of different operational variables, including temperature, pH and transmembrane pressure on process performance of a commercially available nanofiltration membrane (JCM-1812-50N, USA) for removing Ba, Ni, Cr, NaCl and TDS from produced wastewater by dewatering unit of an oil and gas well drilling industry was evaluated. In optimum experimental conditions (T = 25 °C, P = 170 psi and pH = 4) resulted from Thaguchi method, 85.3, 77.4, 58.5, 79.6 and 56.3% removal efficiencies were achieved for Ba, Ni, Cr, NaCl and TDS, respectively. Also, results from a comparison of the Schuller and Wilcox diagrams revealed that the effluent of the membrane system is usable for drinking water, irrigating and agriculture purposes. Moreover, the process effluent quality showed a scaling feature, according to Langelier saturation index and illustrated that the necessary proceedings should be taken to prevent scaling for industrial application. The nanofiltration membrane process with an acceptable recovery rate of 47.17% represented a good performance in the wastewater treatment. Highlights: Nanofiltration treatment of wastewater from dewatering unit of an oil and gas well drilling industries was evaluated. The process optimization was performed by Thaguchi method. Nanofiltration performance was affected by the operational parameters (pH, temperature and transmembrane pressure). Process effluent was found suitable for reuse purposes.