Petroleum Wastewater Research Articles

Bioremediation petroleum wastewater and oil-polluted soils by the non-toxigenic indigenous fungi.

Soil and wastewater samples contaminated by petroleum-related industries were collected from various locations in Saudi Arabia, a country known for its vast oil reserves. The samples were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, including the presence of metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and aromatic compounds. A total of 264 fungal isolates were analyzed and categorized into eight groups of Aspergillus (194 isolates) and four groups of Penicillium (70 isolates). The potential of these fungal groups to grow in oil or its derivatives was investigated. Two isolates, Aspergillus tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FU-KSU69, were utilized in two remediation experiments-one targeting wastewater and the other focusing on polluted soil. The FA-KSU5 strain demonstrated complete removal of Fe3+, As3+, Cr6+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+, with bioremediation efficiency for petroleum hydrocarbons in the wastewater from these sites ranging between 90.80 and 98.58%. Additionally, the FU-KSU69 strain achieved up to 100% reduction of Co2+, Ba2+, B3+, V+, Ni2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, with removal efficiency ranging from 93.17 to 96.02% for aromatic hydrocarbons after 180min of wastewater treatment. After 21days of soil incubation with Aspergillus tubingensis FA-KSU5, there was a 93.15% to 98.48% reduction in total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and an 88.11% to 97.31% decrease in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This strain exhibited the highest removal rates for Cd2+ and As3+ followed by Fe3+, Zn2+, Cr6+, Se4+ and Cu2+. Aspergillus niger FU-KSU69 achieved a 90.37% to 94.90% reduction in TPHs and a 95.13% to 98.15% decrease in PAHs, with significant removal of Ni2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, followed by Co2+, V+, Ba2+ and B3+. The enzymatic activity in the treated soils increased by 1.54- to 3.57-fold compared to the polluted soil. Although the mixture of wastewater and polluted soil exhibited high cytotoxicity against normal human cell lines, following mycoremediation, all treated soils and effluents with the dead fungal biomass showed no toxicity against normal human cell lines at concentrations up to 500 µL/mL, with IC50 values ≥ 1000 µL/mL. SEM and IR analysis revealed morphological and biochemical alterations in the biomass of A. tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FA-KSU69 when exposed to petroleum effluents. This study successfully introduces non-toxigenic and environmentally friendly fungal strains play a crucial role in the bioremediation of contaminated environments. Both strains serve as low-cost and effective adsorbents for bio-remediating petroleum wastewater and oil-contaminated soil. Heavy metals and hydrocarbons, the primary pollutants, were either completely removed or reduced to permissible levels according to international guidelines using the dead biomass of FA-KSU5 and FA-KSU69 fungi. Consequently, the environments associated with this globally significant industry are rendered biologically safe, particularly for humans, as evidenced by the absence of cytotoxicity in samples treated with A. tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FA-KSU69 on various human cell types.

Correction to: Bio-electrolysis of petroleum wastewater using microbial fuel cell for energy production

Correction to: Bio-electrolysis of petroleum wastewater using microbial fuel cell for energy production

Expression of Concern: Adsorptions of phenol molecules by graphene-based nanostructures, modified with nitrogen and bromine, from petroleum wastewater using molecular dynamics simulation

Expression of Concern: Adsorptions of phenol molecules by graphene-based nanostructures, modified with nitrogen and bromine, from petroleum wastewater using molecular dynamics simulation

Bio-electrolysis of petroleum wastewater using microbial fuel cell for energy production

Bio-electrolysis of petroleum wastewater using microbial fuel cell for energy production

Use of Synthetic Iron Oxide-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Photocatalytic Degradation of BTX from Petroleum Wastewater

Use of Synthetic Iron Oxide-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Photocatalytic Degradation of BTX from Petroleum Wastewater

Bioremediation of petroleum refinery wastewater using Bacillus subtilis IH-1 and assessment of its toxicity.

Environmental contamination from petroleum refinery operations has increased due to the rapid population growth and modernization of society, necessitating urgent repair. Microbial remediation of petroleum wastewater by prominent bacterial cultures holds promise in circumventing the issue of petroleum-related pollution. Herein, the bacterial culture was isolated from petroleum-contaminated sludge samples for the valorization of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and biodegradation of petroleum wastewater samples. The bacterial strain was screened and identified as Bacillus subtilis IH-1. After six days of incubation, the bacteria had degraded 25.9% of phenanthrene and 20.3% of naphthalene. The treatment of wastewater samples was assessed using physico-chemical and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, which revealed that the level of pollutants was elevated and above the allowed limits. Following bacterial degradation, the reduction in pollution parameters viz. EC (82.7%), BOD (87.0%), COD (80.0%), total phenols (96.3%), oil and grease (79.7%), TKN (68.8%), TOC (96.3%) and TPH (52.4%) were observed. The reduction in pH and heavy metals were also observed after bacterial treatment. V. mungo was used in the phytotoxicity test, which revealed at 50% wastewater concentration the reduction in biomass (30.3%), root length (87.7%), shoot length (93.9%), and seed germination (30.0%) was observed in comparison to control. When A. cepa root tips immersed in varying concentrations of wastewater samples, the mitotic index significantly decreased, suggesting the induction of cytotoxicity. However, following the bacterial treatment, there was a noticeable decrease in phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity. The bacterial culture produces lignin peroxidase enzyme and has the potential to degrade the toxic pollutants of petroleum wastewater. Therefore the bacterium may be immobilised or directly used at reactor scale or pilot scale study to benefit the industry and environmental safety.

Techno-Economic Modelling of Bioclarified Water Recovery from Petroleum Wastewater Using ASPEN Software and Box-Behnken Design

Application and efficiency of bio-coagulants for petroleum wastewater biocoagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation (bioclarification) are still confined to laboratory proof-of-concept practice. The scale-up process design of bio-clarified water recovery from petroleum wastewater has been a major research lacuna. This paper presents ASPEN Base Case Scale-Up Simulation (BCSUS) using optimum laboratory experimental data and techno-economic predictive models for bioclarified water production from petroleum wastewater. The BCSUS, process design, and economics were performed in the ASPEN Batch Process Developer V10 environment. Predictive models for predicting and optimizing techno-economic parameters such as return on investment (ROI), payback time (PBT), and production rate (PR) were achieved in RSM via the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) technique of Design Expert V13. The base case techno-economic model gave batch size, annual production cost, Total Capital Investment (TCI), PBT, and ROI of 406kg, $9195, $631484, 5.18 years, and 17%, respectively, at the selling price of 2 $0.225. The regression models gave R values of 0.9984 for ROI and 0.9920 for PBT, while the production rate was 0.8867. This study shows that a petroleum wastewater bioclarification scale-up design is feasible.

Preparation of superparamagnetic AC/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanoparticles from magnetic waste oily petroleum sludge (MWOPS): comprehensive characterization, H2 production, design batch photoreactor, and treatment of oily petroleum wastewater (OPW) under UVA light

Preparation of superparamagnetic AC/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanoparticles from magnetic waste oily petroleum sludge (MWOPS): comprehensive characterization, H2 production, design batch photoreactor, and treatment of oily petroleum wastewater (OPW) under UVA light

Synergistic algal/bacterial interaction in membrane bioreactor for detoxification of 1,2-dichloroethane-rich petroleum wastewater

The study addressed the challenge of treating petroleum industry wastewater with high concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) ranging from 384 to 1654 mg/L, which poses a challenge for bacterial biodegradation and algal photodegradation. To overcome this, a collaborative approach using membrane bioreactors (MBRs) that combine algae and bacteria was employed. This synergistic method effectively mitigated the toxicity of 1,2-DCA and curbed MBR fouling. Two types of MBRs were tested: one (B-MBR) used bacterial cultures and the other (AB-MBR) incorporated a mix of algal and bacterial cultures. The AB-MBR significantly contributed to 1,2-DCA removal, with algae accounting for over 20% and bacteria for approximately 49.5% of the dechlorination process. 1,2-DCA metabolites, including 2-chloroethanol, 2-chloro-acetaldehyde, 2-chloroacetic acid, and acetic acid, were partially consumed as carbon sources by algae. Operational efficiency peaked at a 12-hour hydraulic retention time (HRT) in AB-MBR, enhancing enzyme activities crucial for 1,2-DCA degradation such as dehydrogenase (DH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The microbial diversity in AB-MBR surpassed that in B-MBR, with a notable increase in Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Planctomycetota, and Verrucomicrobiota. Furthermore, AB-MBR showed a significant rise in the dominance of 1,2-DCA-degrading genus such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. Additionally, algal-degrading phyla (e.g., Nematoda, Rotifera, and Streptophyta) were more prevalent in AB-MBR, substantially reducing the issue of membrane fouling.

Solvent-thermal approach of MIL-100(Fe)/Cygnea/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite for the treatment of lead from oil refinery wastewater (ORW) under UVA light

The main purpose of this research endeavor is to reduce lead concentrations in the wastewater of an oil refinery through the utilization of a material composed of oyster shell waste (MIL-100(Fe)/Cygnea/Fe3O4/TiO2. Initially, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were synthesized via solvent-thermal synthesis. It was subsequently coated layer by layer with the organic–metallic framework MIL-100 (Fe) using the core–shell method. Additionally, the solvent-thermal method was utilized to integrate TiO2 nanoparticles into the magnetic organic–metallic framework’s structure. Varieties of analytical analysis were utilized to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the synthetic final photocatalyst. Nitrogen adsorption and desorption technique (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning electron diffraction pattern (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Following the characterization of the final photocatalyst, the physical and chemical properties of the nanoparticles synthesized in each step, several primary factors that significantly affect the removal efficiency in the advanced oxidation system (AOPs) were examined. These variables consist of pH, photocatalyst dosage, lead concentration, and reaction temperature. The synthetic photocatalyst showed optimal performance in the removal of lead from petroleum wastewater under the following conditions: 35 °C temperature, pH of 3, 0.04 g/l photocatalyst dosage, and 100 mg/l wastewater concentration. Additionally, the photocatalyst maintained a significant level of reusability after undergoing five cycles. The findings of the study revealed that the photocatalyst dosage and pH were the most influential factors in the effectiveness of lead removal. According to optimal conditions, lead removal reached a maximum of 96%. The results of this investigation showed that the synthetic photocatalyst, when exposed to UVA light, exhibited an extraordinary capacity for lead removal.

Application of Fe-ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid complex to enhance the electrocatalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate under neutral pH condition for removal of refractory naphthenic acids

In this work, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was applied as a chelating agent to stabilize Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle to effectively activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in an electrochemical (EC) co-catalytic system for elimination of naphthenic acids (NAs) under neutral pH condition. 1-Adamantanecarboxylic acid (ACA) was applied as the model compound for NAs that are persistent contaminants in petroleum industrial wastewater. In the PMS/EC/Fe(III)-EDTA system, complete removal of ACA has been achieved in 20-min reaction under neutral pH condition. Degradation mechanisms were investigated via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis, probe experiments and quenching experiments to reveal the reactive species •OH, SO4•− and 1O2 for ACA removal, the production of which have been significantly facilitated by the introduction of EDTA complex. A new pathway has been found for the production of 1O2 via several intermediates including hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and mass spectrometry analysis were applied to predict ACA degradation pathways and byproducts. Decarboxylation, hydroxyl substitution and carbonyl substitution byproducts of ACA were detected. The PMS/EC/Fe(III)-EDTA system suffered nonimportant influence at the presence of humic acid, H2PO4-, HCO3–, NO3– and Cl- for ACA removal. Overall results demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the PMS/EC/Fe(III)-EDTA system for efficient removal of NAs in petroleum wastewater in natural environment under neutral pH condition.

Photocatalytic Oxidation Process for Petroleum Wastewater Treatment and The Possibility of Using Tapered Bubble Column (TBC): A Review

<p>The photocatalytic oxidation of organic and petroleum wastewater treatment is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) with several benefits. It operates at normal temperatures and pressure, is inexpensive, does not produce secondary waste, and us easily accessible. Many studies have employed bubble columns, slurry bubble columns, and three-phase fluidized reactors in the photocatalytic process for wastewater treatment. Pure TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 are considered the most promising catalysts. The aim of this work was to review the literature on the photocatalytic process for organic pollutants and petroleum wastewater (produced water) treatment, with a special focus on pure TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 as well as to study the possibility of using a tapered bubble column reactor for this treatment. A circulating upflow tapered bubble column reactor with a light lamp at the center facilitates the separation of the gas-liquid-solid phases with no dead zone in the photocatalytic process.</p>

Removal of Heavy Metals from Petroleum Industry Wastewater Using Indigenous Microalgae <i>Scenedesmus </i>sp

Petroleum industry effluents contain hazardous compounds such as heavy metals, which can damage the environment and human health. In this work, petroleum wastewater used as a medium to culture marine algae Scenedesmus sp. with the aim of removing maximum heavy metals. The efficiency of Scenedesmus sp. were examined in laboratory scale for elimination of COD, BOD and total petroleum heavy metals. The marine algae were monitored in pure petroleum wastewater as well as 25%, 50% and 75% diluted wastewater samples which conducted for 15 days. At the condition of 27 ± 2 °C, Scenedesmus sp. removed 35 – 96% of chromium (IV), cadmium (II) and copper (II). Among them chromium (IV) was significantly removed by Scenedesmus sp. Hence, phytoremediation using Scenedesmus sp. is seen as one of the best options to remove heavy metals from petroleum wastewater. Keywords: Microalgae, Scenedesmus sp., heavy metals, wastewater, biomass

Preparation of SrFe12O19/SiO2/TiO2 Photocatalysts and Degradation of Methylene Blue and Petroleum Wastewater

AbstractThe synthesis and application of magnetic photocatalysts have become a critical topic in organic waste treatment. In this study, SrFe12O19 powder, SrFe12O19/SiO2 particles and SrFe12O19/SiO2/TiO2 photocatalysts were successfully produced using coprecipitation technique, Stöber process and solvothermal method, respectively. The degradation of methylene blue dye and simulated petroleum wastewater under simulated sunlight and ultraviolet light was used to assess the photocatalytic activity of the SrFe12O19/SiO2/TiO2 composites. Results showed the high photocatalytic performance of the produced SrFe12O19/SiO2/TiO2 photocatalysts with a 1 : 4 mass ratio of SrFe12O19 to TiO2 synthesized at 170 °C, whose surface has more hydroxyl groups as the active center. At 120 min of irradiation, the photodegradation rates of methylene blue and simulated petroleum wastewater were 83.94 % and 60.77 %, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the Fe12O19/SiO2/TiO2 with ferrite semiconductor/insulator/semiconductor structure was improved by the action of the magnetic field of SrFe12O19. The SrFe12O19/SiO2/TiO2 composite particles can be recycled easily under an external magnetic field and show good application prospects in organic wastewater degradation.

Parametric Analysis on the Erosion and Corrosion Behavior of GRP's Hybrid Composite Pipes Used for the Transport of Petroleum Waste-water

Parametric Analysis on the Erosion and Corrosion Behavior of GRP's Hybrid Composite Pipes Used for the Transport of Petroleum Waste-water

Bio-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles and sunlight-driven photocatalysis for environmentally-friendly and sustainable route of synthetic petroleum refinery wastewater treatment

The design of a green photocatalytic system that harnesses renewable and eco-friendly constituents holds the potential to offer valuable insights into alternative strategies for treating toxic multi-components in refinery water effluents. A significant challenge in implementing a practical and viable approach is the utilization of solar energy—an abundant, natural, and cost-effective resource—for photochemical processes within advanced oxidation processes. In this study, we explored the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as photocatalyst prepared via an environmentally friendly synthesis approach, resulting in the formation of crystalline wurtzite nanoparticles, with an average size of about 14 nm relatively spherical in shape. Notably, the extract derived from Moringa oleifera was employed in this investigation. These nanoparticles were characterized and validated using various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. For comparison, conventionally synthesized ZnO NPs were also included in the evaluations. The findings reveal that, under illumination, biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit photocatalytic performance in effectively breaking down the organic compounds present in synthetic petroleum wastewater. Photochemical analysis further illustrates the degradation efficiency of Green-ZnO, which, within 180 min of irradiation resulted in 51%, 52%, 88%, and 93% of removal for Phenol, O-Cresol. Under optimal loading conditions, NPs produced via the green synthesis approach perform better when compared to chemically synthesized ZnO. This significant improvement in photocatalytic activity underscores the potential of eco-friendly synthesis methods in achieving enhanced water treatment efficiency.

Synthesis of Polyaluminum Chloride Coagulant from Waste Aluminum Foil and Utilization in Petroleum Wastewater Treatment

This work investigates the potential synthesis of cost-effective polyaluminum chloride (PACl) coagulant from waste household aluminum foil and utilization for treating petroleum wastewater (PWW), especially dissolved organic compounds (DOC, like octanol–water mixture) and nonsettleable suspended (NSS-kaolin) mineral particles. Based on the Standard Practice for Coagulation–Flocculation Jar Test, the efficiency of PACl for DOC and NSS removal was evaluated in relation to the effects of the operational parameters. The results demonstrated that the as-prepared PACl has an amorphous morphology with a Keggin-type e-Al13 molecular structure {Na[AlO4(OH)24(H2O)]·xH2O and good thermal stability up to 278 °C. PACl coagulant also exhibited a higher efficiency for NSS removal than DOC by around 1.5- to 1.9-fold under broad pH (5–7), while a higher acidic/alkaline pH disrupts the sweep floc formation. An increased PACl dosage (over 25 mg/L) also caused a decrease in the coagulation efficiency by 11.7% due to Al species’ transformation and pH depression (from 6.8 to 4.9) via increased PACl hydrolysis. With a fast rotating speed of 280 rpm for 2 min, the minimum dose of PACl (10–25 mg/L) can maximize the removal efficiency of NSS (~98%) and DOC (~69%) at pH 6.5 ± 0.5 and 35 °C after 30 min of settling time. Treating actual saline PWW samples (salinity up to 187.7 g/L) also verified the high efficacy of PACl coagulation performance in reducing the turbidity and dissolved hydrocarbons by more than 75.5% and 67.7%, respectively. These findings verify the techno-economic feasibility of the as-prepared PACl coagulant in treating PWW treatment at different salinity levels.

Integrated approach for efficient crude oil bioremediation: Bacterial consortium development, mathematical modelling and scalable bioprocess design

Crude oil pollution has a significant impact on the surrounding ecosystem, making its remediation an urgent necessity due to the waste discharge and seepage from petroleum industries. To address this issue, we developed an efficient bacterial consortium from strains isolated from petroleum refinery waste. These strains were identified as genera Pseudomonas, Ochrobactrum, Alcaligenes, and Bacillus, specifically chosen for their ability to biodegrade crude oil. Through the optimization of process parameters, we enhanced the biodegradation efficiency of the bacterial consortium. Furthermore, the scalability of the biodegradation process was established in 6L batch bioreactor, which featured a total TPH removal of 80.10 %. The independently obtained substrate inhibition data and bioreactor batch kinetics data were utilized to develop a batch mathematical-model. The mathematical model accurately simulated batch bioreactor kinetics and was further extrapolated to design a fed-batch nutrient feeding strategy. Implementing this strategy, based on the model, led to a higher TPH removal rate of 86.86 % in a constant feed batch-fed-batch approach, as validated through experimental implementation. Validation of the biodegradation process was confirmed through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of degraded samples, which confirmed the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. The increased rates of oil biodegradation achieved through our developed consortium and advanced bioprocess offer a promising solution for the effective clean-up of oily pollutants present in petroleum wastewater and oil spillage scenarios.

Efficient removal of naphthenic acids from real petroleum wastewater by natural pyrite activated persulfate system

The petroleum wastewater (PWW) contains a diverse range of recalcitrant organic contaminants. Of particular concern is the removal of naphthenic acids (NAs) due to the high toxicity and persistence. Persulfate (PS) based oxidation processes have shown promising in treating refractory wastewater, while the high costs of prepared catalysts limited their widespread implementation. This study aims to develop a cost-effective natural pyrite activated PS system for PWW treatment. The removal of NAs by pyrite/PS system was initially investigated. More than 90% of cyclohexanoic acid (CHA), a model NA, was removed in pyrite/PS system (2.0 g/L pyrite, 4.0 mM PS) at initial pH of 3–11. Scavenging experiments revealed that Fe(II) on pyrite surface was the reactive site for PS activation to generate reactive species, including sulfate radical (SO4·−), Fe(IV) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) for CHA degradation. Reactions of Fe(III) with S helped restore Fe(II) and enhance PS activation, resulting in the sustained catalytic activity of pyrites over five cycles. Cl−, SO42− and NO3− below 10 mM had minimal impact on CHA degradation in pyrite/PS system. However, over 1 mM of HCO3− inhibited 80% of CHA removal due to the buffer effect to maintain the high solution pH. Removing HCO3− from real PWW restored the removal of CHA and of total organic carbon (TOC) to over 90% and 71.3% in pyrite/PS system, respectively. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) results indicated that O2‒6 species including NAs were primarily eliminated through mineralization and oxygen addition. Besides, O3–5S, NO3–5S and N3O2‒4 species were the most susceptible to oxidation in PWW, resulting in the increase of the oxidation level (i.e., O/Cwa) from 0.41 to 0.56 after treatment. This study provides valuable insights into the treatment of NAs in real PWW, and potential application of natural minerals in the treatment of industrial wastewater.

Removal efficiency of heavy metals, oily in water, total suspended solids, and chemical oxygen demand from industrial petroleum wastewater by modern green nanocomposite methods

In the present work, we discuss the concern over heavy metals, such as As(III), Bi(II), Cd(II), Cr(VI), Mn(II), Mo(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Sb(III), Se(-II), Zn(II), and the degradation of oil in water (OIW) saturated with hydrocarbons, total suspended solids (TSS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in petroleum wastewater, which pose a significant threat to aquatic and terrestrial life. To address this issue and preserve biodiversity, researchers conducted a study on the synthesis and characterization of ZnO@CuO nanocomposite (NC) using Mentha pulegium L leaf extract. The characterization techniques employed included UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (DSC–TGA), and Zeta potential. The results showed that the ZnO@CuO NC achieved 100% removal efficiency under optimal conditions. Furthermore, the kinetics of the removal process were well described by both the first and second-order kinetic models. The isotherm studies of heavy metals, OIW, TSS, and COD revealed that the adsorption process followed well the Langmuir isotherm model. Overall, this study highlights the potential of green-synthesized ZnO@CuO NPs as effective adsorbents for the remediation of heavy metals and pollutants in petrochemical wastewater.