Oil-Water Emulsion Separation Using Nanoparticle-Coated Polystyrene Membrane

Chioma Deborah Mbakaogu,Nkemakolam Chinedu Izuwa,Ngozi Claribelle Nwogu,Stanley Toochukwu Ekwueme

doi:10.11648/j.ogce.20200806.15

Chioma Deborah Mbakaogu, Nkemakolam Chinedu Izuwa + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ogce.20200806.15

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Abstract

The demand for membranes have increased enormously in the last decades due to increased applicability in many industrial activities. In the oil and gas industry, filtration membranes gain popularity over other types of membranes due to their usage in separation of oil-water emulsion using microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration techniques. Researchers have geared interest in the development of better performance membranes aimed at improving the efficiency of separation and antifouling properties. Developments in nanotechnology has made available nanoparticles which are used to further enhance the properties and performance of membranes, adding credence to membrane usage in emulsion separation. In this work, Polystyrene membrane of size 0.1µm is enhanced by coating with Aluminium oxide nanoparticle for improve fouling resistance properties and separation efficiency. Experiments were conducted in separation of oil-water emulsion using the prepared composite membrane system. Results show that the membrane system yields 97.86% and 97.54% efficiency in terms of oil rejection for a pressure application of 60% stroke and 80% stroke respectively while the permeation fluxes are 2.433 ml/cm2-min and 1.944 ml/cm2-min for 80% stroke and 60% stroke pressure applications respectively. The results reveal that increase in pressure has less effect in the membrane efficiency. The application of aluminum oxide coating increased the efficiency of the membrane and reduced its fouling characteristics.

Highlights

The development of technology to separate oil from water is vital when dealing with oil-water emulsions
The Result for Polystyrene membrane material for 80% stroke and 60% stroke is given in table 2
Parameter pH Conductivity, S/cm Turbidity, NTU Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), mg/l Viscosity, mPa.s Filtration time, min Oil Content in filtrate, % Volume of Filtrate, ml Volume retained, ml Total volume of emulsion used, ml Volume absorbed by membrane Volume of oil content in filtrate Separation Efficiency Permeation Flux, ml/cm2-min Average Filtrate Flowrate, ml/min

Summary

Introduction

The development of technology to separate oil from water is vital when dealing with oil-water emulsions. Much attention has been given to means of separating oil-water emulsion because of the inherent difficulties which it portrays One such difficulty is the disposal problem which leads to pollution of the ecosystem. Researchers have found out that using membranes for oil/water emulsion separation is more efficient when compared to conventional techniques such as gravity settling, coagulation, flotation, flocculation, ozonation, and chemical methods. These conventional methods have become ineffective in treatment of oil/water emulsion due to high operational cost, higher energy consumption, lower

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