Design and optimization of a resin technology system for the elimination of oil from industrial wastewater

Identifier:  TDX:3398

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX3398

Authors:  Tejero Iborra, Maria dels Àngels

Abstract:
Oily wastewater is commonplace in the oil & gas industry, and it poses a huge environmental problem that means they must be treated for discharge or reuse. The conventional approach for oily wastewater treatment can struggle to deal with the emulsified oil and dissolved organics found in this kind of wastewater. In this thesis we have aimed to explore the remediation of oily wastewater through the use of resin technology. An oleophilic resin has been studied for the removal of emulsified oil through a coalescence process, and a polymeric adsorbent has been studied for the purpose of removal of oil through adsorption mechanisms. The typical contents of petrochemical wastewater have been characterized, leading to the appropriate identification of appropriate methods for routine analysis. A fundamental study of the impact of operational variables and wastewater chemical composition on both coalescer and adsorption systems has been performed in a bench-scale experimental set-up in order to determine the operational limits of oilremoval resins. These efforts have allowed us to determine the critical variables for coalescer performance, and to develop a basic predictive model. Adsorption studies have shown the different affinity of the adsorbent for the different typical components of oily water. Pilot-scale testing has been used to develop further the concept of oil removal through resin technology and aiding in optimization of the process.