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Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Waste in Wastewater Treatment Processes

Ghasemzadeh, Shahram, M.S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1471254155

Abstract Details

2016, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Environmental Engineering.
Hydraulic fracturing (hydro-fracking, HF) is widely used to extract oil, shale gas and coal bed methane. This exploration of energy reservoirs causes major challenges for water consumption and management, owing to the consumption of large volume of fresh waters and the generation of flow-back wastewater streams. Hence, there is a need for efficient and cost-effective flow-back wastewater treatment technologies. This flow-back water typically contains high levels of dissolved solids, including chloride and bromide salts, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons from natural sources as well as chemical additives from various stages of the HF process. In general, treatment of water from oil and gas exploration activities (hereafter referred to as OGWW) has occurred through either admixture to normal wastewater inputs or post-treated wastewater. However, to date, the impacts of such inputs, and in particular, the effects of high total dissolved solids (TDS) levels on secondary wastewater treatment have not been ascertained. The elevated TDS levels are of particular concern because conventional wastewater treatment is generally not effective at their removal. The effect of high salinity on the characteristics and performance of activated sludge in a bench-scale bioreactors was studied. The bioreactors were subject to salinity shocks by adding NaCl up to 50 g/L d to a synthetic municipal wastewater mimicking a medium strength influent. Relevant performance parameters were measured including mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), Nitrate, Ammonia, and Total Organic Carbon. In a second stage of the project, the efficiency of the bioreactors were studied to evaluate the treatment of actual hydraulic fracturing wastewater under aerobic conditions. The results indicate that increasing TDS concentrations resulted in lower COD removal rates and removal efficiencies. Additionally, high saline concentrations caused DO limitations so that nitrate was used up as electron donor.
Pablo Campo, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
George Sorial, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Makram Suidan, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
79 p.
Environmental Engineering
Hydraulic fracturing; Wastewater treatment; Flow-back water; Total dissolved solids; Activated sludge; Bioreactors

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ghasemzadeh, S. (2016). Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Waste in Wastewater Treatment Processes [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1471254155

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ghasemzadeh, Shahram. Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Waste in Wastewater Treatment Processes. 2016. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1471254155.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ghasemzadeh, Shahram. "Effect of Hydraulic Fracturing Waste in Wastewater Treatment Processes." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1471254155

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1471254155
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.