Chapter 21 - Membrane technology for remediation and degradation of petroleum pollutants

Abstract

Crude oil is the core source for the production of petroleum hydrocarbons. Petroleum hydrocarbons are basically the combination of many other toxicity causing hydrocarbons such as aromatic, aliphatic, and resins. Massive discharge of these petroleum hydrocarbons into the land and water causes contamination of soil and water resources, and enormous damage to water bodies and aquatic life. Most common sources for the release of these petroleum hydrocarbons include the leakages of storage tanks, refineries, extraction, oil spillage due to exploration and transportation, and offshore drilling. There are various traditional methods for the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons which includes physical methods (separation, recycling, soil washing, solidification, vapor extraction, incineration), chemical methods (chemical oxidation-reduction, activated carbon adsorption, and electrochemical system), biological methods (bioremediation and phytoremediation). To maintain a supply of drinking water and prevent global water contamination, many components of the world’s water scenario require the introduction of new technologies. State of the art nanotechnology in conventional process engineering opens new paths for improved wastewater treatment technologies. Oil–water separation is a field of great importance since it directly affects how to deal with industrial oily effluent and other oil/water pollution issues. Therefore, the creation of novel functional nanomaterials is essential for the effective purification of oil-contaminated water. Nanobased materials techniques, such as disinfection, desalination, sensing and monitoring, photocatalysis, membrane process, adsorption, biological treatment, coagulation/precipitation, and oxidation are the current breakthroughs in nanotechnologies for removal and degradation of petroleum pollutants in water. Nowadays, nanotechnology becomes a modern technology to cope with the elimination of PHs in the environment. This chapter deals with the application of nanotechnology for the degradation and removal of petroleum pollutants in environment and particularly in water bodies.