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TitleRemoval of organic compounds and trace metals from oil sands process-affected water using zero valent iron enhanced by petroleum coke
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsPourrezaei, P., Alpatova A., Khosravi K., Drzewicz P., Chen Y., Chelme-Ayala P., & El-Din M. G.
Volume139
Pagination8 pages
Date Published06/2014
PublisherJournal of Environmental Management
Publication Languageeng
Keywordscoke, naphthenic acids, tailings water, toxicity, UofA, wastewater, wastewater treatment
Abstract

The oil production generates large volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), referring to the water that has been in contact with oil sands or released from tailings deposits. There are concerns about the environmental impacts of the release of OSPW because of its toxicity. Zero valent iron alone (ZVI) and in combination with petroleum coke (CZVI) were investigated as environmentally friendly treatment processes for the removal of naphthenic acids (NAs), acid-extractable fraction (AEF), fluorophore organic compounds, and trace metals from OSPW. While the application of 25 g/L ZVI to OSPW resulted in 58.4% removal of NAs in the presence of oxygen, the addition of 25 g petroleum coke (PC) as an electron conductor enhanced the NAs removal up to 90.9%. The increase in ZVI concentration enhanced the removals of NAs, AEF, and fluorophore compounds from OSPW. It was suggested that the electrons generated from the oxidation of ZVI were transferred to oxygen, resulting in the production of hydroxyl radicals and oxidation of NAs. When OSPW was de-oxygenated, the NAs removal decreased to 17.5% and 65.4% during treatment with ZVI and CZVI, respectively. The removal of metals in ZVI samples was similar to that obtained during CZVI treatment. Although an increase in ZVI concentration did not enhance the removal of metals, their concentrations effectively decreased at all ZVI loadings. The Microtox® bioassay with Vibrio fischeri showed a decrease in the toxicity of ZVI- and CZVI-treated OSPW. The results obtained in this study showed that the application of ZVI in combination with PC is a promising technology for OSPW treatment.

Locational Keywords

Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR)

Active Link

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5901486924

Group

OSEMB

Citation Key53478

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