Separation of BTX Fraction from Reservoir Brines by Sorption onto Hydrophobized Biomass in a Fixed-Bed-Column System

Ewa Knapik, Katarzyna Chruszcz-Lipska, Jerzy Stopa, Marta Marszałek and Agnieszka Makara
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Ewa Knapik: AGH University of Science and Technology; Drilling, Oil and Gas Faculty, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Katarzyna Chruszcz-Lipska: AGH University of Science and Technology; Drilling, Oil and Gas Faculty, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Jerzy Stopa: AGH University of Science and Technology; Drilling, Oil and Gas Faculty, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Marta Marszałek: Cracow University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, Poland
Agnieszka Makara: Cracow University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Oily brine from the gas and oil industries remains the most difficult wastewater to treat due to its complex chemical composition, which includes aromatic hydrocarbons. Even at low concentrations, the presence of BTX (benzene, toluene, xylenes) can be extremely harmful to aquatic ecosystems. Fixed-bed adsorption columns are recommended for oily water treatment due to their flexibility and easy operation. In this research, pine sawdust modified with polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) and hydrophobic nanosilica was applied as a sorbent in a filtration system. The surface modification of raw fiber allowed to change its morphology and increase the roughness of it. The Yoon–Nelson, Bohart–Adams, Clark, and Belter models were applied to simulate continuous biosorption. The Bohart–Adams model strongly correlated with the experimental data and described the whole dynamic behavior of the column. The effect of feed flow rate (10–50 mL/min) on breakthrough characteristics was determined. Both the breakthrough and saturation time decreased as the flow rate increased. This study indicated that hydrophobized pine sawdust is an effective low-cost potential biosorbent for the removal of BTX fraction from produced water in continuous column mode.

Keywords: oily brine; BTX; breakthrough curve; fixed-bed column (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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