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Zwitterionic surfactant stabilised oil-water separation using novel composite electrospun nanofibrous-phase inverted PES membranes
Akmaral Karamergenova a, Junjie Wu b
a Nazarbayev University Research Administration, Astana, Kazakhstan, 010000
b Aston University, Birmigham, United Kingdom, B4 7ET
Water scarcity is an escalating global concern, making the reuse of wastewater a critical strategy to alleviate stress on natural resources. This thesis introduces a balanced approach to water management using pinch analysis, emphasizing that cooling water demand is equally important as energy demand, especially for inland regions where externalities are significant. This perspective is particularly relevant for Kazakhstan - a dry, landlocked nation facing exacerbated water scarcity due to climate change. A notable example is the recent severe reduction in the flow of the Zhayik River in the Atyrau region, which has intensified water shortages and prompted the government to revise water policies urgently.
Produced water is so called byproduct from the oil and gas production, typically trapped within underground formations alongside oil and gas. This water often contains a mix of naturally occurring substances, such as salts and minerals. It is one the largest streams of wastewater extracted during the oil and gas production [1], [2]. According to statistical data, over 70 billion barrels of produced water were generated annually in 2009, with the United States alone responsible for discharging 21 billion barrels [3], [4]. For instance, during the natural gas production 80% of the residual and waste is considered to be a produced water. By contrast, the volume of produced water generated from fossil fuel extraction is 98% [5]. Globally, the ratio of water to oil is 3:1, meaning for every barrel of oil produced, three barrels of water are generated, necessitating substantial efforts to treat and responsibly dispose of the large volumes of the water [6], [7]. Therefore, treating produced water has a potential to be converted into useful water source such as irrigation, household and even potable water.
Polymer membranes are widely utilised for produced water treatment; however, challenges such as flux decline and membrane fouling continue to limit their effectiveness. In this study, a novel composite polyethersulfone (PES) membrane with enhanced hydrophilicity and mechanical strength was developed. The membrane was fabricated by incorporating polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) into the PES matrix using a combination of electrospinning and wet phase inversion techniques. The resulting composite membrane demonstrated significantly improved hydrophilic properties, achieving a water contact angle of 68.04 ± 2.07°, alongside superior mechanical stability. Moreover, it exhibited excellent oil rejection performance, reaching 98.2%. These findings suggest that the electrospun-phase inverted PES/PVP composite membrane holds strong potential for high-performance produced water treatment applications, offering both durability and efficiency.
| References | [1] S. Jiménez, M. M. Micó, M. Arnaldos, F. Medina, and S. Contreras, “State of the art of produced water treatment,” Chemosphere, vol. 192, pp. 186–208, 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.139. [2] M. A. Al-Ghouti, M. A. Al-Kaabi, M. Y. Ashfaq, and D. A. Da’na, “Produced water characteristics, treatment and reuse: A review,” Journal of Water Process Engineering, vol. 28, pp. 222–239, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2019.02.001. [3] J. Veil, “US produced water volumes and management practices in 2012,” Groundwater Protection Council, 2015. [4] E. T. Igunnu and G. Z. Chen, “Produced water treatment technologies,” International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 157–177, Sep. 2014, doi: 10.1093/ijlct/cts049. [5] H. M. K. Delanka-Pedige et al., “Safe reuse of treated produced water outside oil and gas fields? A review of current practices, challenges, opportunities, and a risk-based pathway for produced water treatment and fit-for-purpose reuse,” Curr Opin Chem Eng, vol. 42, p. 100973, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coche.2023.100973. [6] A. Fakhru’l-Razi, A. Pendashteh, L. C. Abdullah, D. R. A. Biak, S. S. Madaeni, and Z. Z. Abidin, “Review of technologies for oil and gas produced water treatment,” J Hazard Mater, vol. 170, no. 2, pp. 530–551, 2009, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.05.044. [7] O. Samuel et al., “Oilfield-produced water treatment using conventional and membrane-based technologies for beneficial reuse: A critical review,” J Environ Manage, vol. 308, p. 114556, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114556. |
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| Country | Kazakhstan |
| Green Housing & Porous Media Focused Abstracts | This abstract is related to Green Housing |
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