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Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment

De Silva, Chamara L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Chemical Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
The U.S. oil/gas industry generates over 21 billion barrels of produced water annually. This wastewater stream contains a host of components including suspended solids, dissolved solids, and hydrocarbons. This waste stream represents a significant beneficial resource if reused to offset other water consumption demands. However, many beneficial reuse applications have strict hydrocarbon limits. Oxidation of hydrocarbons in supercritical water media provides an effective removal technique allowing wastewater reuse. In order to quickly and effectively remove hydrocarbons in supercritical water a heterogeneous catalyst is needed. In this study, an MnO2 catalyst on a TiO2 support was synthesized and evaluated for removal of phenol in supercritical water. Synthesized catalysts were characterized using temperature programmed reduction, pulse chemisorptions and X-ray powder diffraction. Catalyst activity for phenol conversion was evaluated in a continuous packed bed reactor at supercritical water conditions, while analyzing vapor and liquid products. Evaluated process variables included free O2 concentration and the catalyst Mn loading. Both variables had positive effects on phenol conversion. The process reached complete destruction of phenol at an O2 level of 500% of the stoichiometric O2 for complete oxidation. Increase in catalyst Mn loading increased its active sites concentration enhancing the contribution of heterogeneous reaction kinetics for phenol supercritical water oxidation (SCWO); however a saturation limit appeared to be reached as Mn loading is further increased. A part of the Mn composition appeared to be unable to create active sites on the catalyst due to interactions with TiO2. A phenol conversion of 70% was reached at 12% (w/w) Mn in the catalyst with 100% excess O2.
Jason Trembly, PhD (Advisor)
David Young, PhD (Committee Member)
Marc Singer, PhD (Committee Member)
Natalie Kruse, PhD (Committee Member)
127 p.
Chemical Engineering; Energy; Engineering; Environmental Engineering
Supercritical; produced water; catalyst; MnO2; TiO2; phenol

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • De Silva, C. L. (2016). Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • De Silva, Chamara. Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment. 2016. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • De Silva, Chamara. "Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1460630958
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.