Model development for naphthenic acids ozonation process

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Water Treatment Technologies

Background:

• Oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) contains toxic naphthenic acids (NAs), which are biorefractory.
• Effective treatment of OSPW is crucial for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the ozonation of OSPW for naphthenic acid removal.
• To determine the influence of operating parameters on NA degradation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 2(4) factorial design for ozonation experiments in a semi-batch reactor.
• Studied the effects of ozone concentration, flow rate, pH, and mixing.
• Developed an empirical model to correlate NA removal with operating parameters.

Main Results:

• Ozone concentration was the most significant factor influencing NA removal.
• Ozonation effectively reduced NA concentrations and improved biodegradability.
• An empirical model was successfully developed.

Conclusions:

• Ozonation is a highly effective method for treating OSPW by removing naphthenic acids.
• Optimizing ozone concentration is key to maximizing NA removal efficiency.
• The developed model provides insights into the ozonation process for OSPW treatment.