Removal of total dissolved solids from oil-field-produced water using ceramic adsorbents integrated with reverse osmosis
Netty Herawati, Muhammad Hatta Dahlan, Maulana Yusuf, Maulid M. Iqbal, Kiagus Ahmad Roni, Subriyer Nasir
Abstract
Total dissolved solids (TDS) consisting of inorganic salts and organic matter are pollutants to the aquatic and water systems for human use. This paper studied the effect of ceramic adsorbent composition on improving the quality of the produced water (PW) by decreasing TDS before entering reverse osmosis (RO). Manufacturing ceramic adsorbents use a mixture of spent catalysts of residues catalytic cracking (RCC) and natural clay in various compositions. Experiments were performed using the PW from one oil and gas company in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The initial characterization of produced water contains total dissolved solids of 14,556 mg/L. The flow rate of PW into the ceramic adsorbent column were varied from 6 to 8 L/min at a contact time of 15 to 120 min. The results showed that ceramic adsorbent A (diameter 10 mm and thickness 10 mm, 70% clay, and 30% RCC) reduced TDS by 74.58%. Adsorbent B (diameter of 20 mm and thickness of 10 mm, 70% RCC and 30% clay) lowers TDS by 56.68% at a flow rate of 6 L/min and a contact time of 60 min. Adsorbent C (diameter of 10 mm and thickness of 10 mm, 30% clay, and 70% RCC) reduced TDS by 59.40% at a flow rate of 6 L/min and a flow time of 60 min. Adsorbent D (diameter of 20 mm, thickness of 10 mm, 30% clay, and 70% RCC) lowers TDS by 54.38% at a flow rate of 6 L/ min and a contact time of 60 min. After being transferred into the adsorption column, their filtrates were sent into the Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane. The final permeates of RO have TDS values between 1,720 mg/L to 3,930 mg/L that met water standards for oil and gas exploration wastewater in Indonesia.