Produced water treatment by micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration
Ali Deriszadeh1, Maen M Husein, Thomas G Harding
1Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
Environmental Science & Technology
|February 4, 2010
Summary
This study combined ultrafiltration (UF) and micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) to remove organic contaminants from produced water. The approach effectively reduced dissolved organics, lowering surfactant concentration and improving water treatment efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Water Treatment Technologies
Background:
- Produced water contains organic contaminants that require effective removal for safe discharge or reuse.
- Conventional ultrafiltration (UF) effectively removes suspended solids and oil droplets but struggles with dissolved organics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a combined UF and micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) approach for removing organic contaminants from field-produced water.
- To investigate the impact of organic contaminant characteristics on surfactant behavior and micelle formation during MEUF.
- To assess the performance of different membranes and develop a predictive model for the water treatment process.
Main Methods:
- Field-produced water samples from Canada and the United States were treated using sequential UF and MEUF.
- The study analyzed the effect of organic contaminants on the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC).
- Polymeric and ceramic membranes with varying molecular weight cutoffs (MWCOs) were tested under different trans-membrane pressures (TMP).
- Performance was evaluated based on permeate flux, recovery ratio, and solute rejection.
- A mathematical model integrating Darcy's law and the resistance-in-series model was applied to describe flux decline.
Main Results:
- MEUF effectively removed dissolved organic contaminants, complementing the UF pre-treatment.
- Organic contaminants lowered the CMC of the surfactant (CPC), enabling the use of lower concentrations.
- The incorporation of contaminants into CPC micelles increased micelle size and dissolution capacity.
- Membrane performance varied with MWCO and TMP, with a mathematical model accurately predicting flux decline.
Conclusions:
- The combined UF-MEUF system is a viable and efficient method for removing diverse organic contaminants from produced water.
- Understanding the interaction between contaminants and surfactants optimizes MEUF performance, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
- The developed mathematical model provides a valuable tool for predicting and optimizing UF/MEUF processes in real-world applications.
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