Improvements in Treatment of Waste From Petroleum Industry in Croatia

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Goran Durn ◽  
Nediljka Gaurina-Međimurec ◽  
Heinz Fröschl ◽  
John A. Veil ◽  
Boris Veronek ◽  
...  

Exploration and production (E&P) waste generated by the petroleum industry in Croatia from two central oilfield pits (COPs) was investigated in order to (1) examine materials for waste treatment that can preferentially sorb organic contaminants and, in that way, improve the process of stabilization/solidification (S/S), and (2) find field-acceptable methods to reduce the amount of waste to be treated with S/S or some other method. Composite samples from COP Vinkovci were treated in the laboratory with different materials or with combinations of several materials: (a) Cement, (b) organophilic clay, (c) calcined moler clay, (d) lime+organophilicclay+bentonite, (e) cement+organophilicclay+bentonite, (f) lime+calcined moler clay, and (g) cement+calcined moler clay. A sample of E&P waste treated with lime was used for comparison of results. The most successful treatment for the majority of inorganic and organic pollutants was treatment with organophilic clay. Samples treated with organophilic clay release 63 times less total oils, 67 times less mineral oils, 798 times less naphthalene, and 136 times less lead to distilled water than the sample treated with lime. The next most successful material is calcined moler clay. The results clearly show that reduction in hydrocarbon content using some of the field-acceptable methods and detailed chemical analysis of remaining organic and inorganic pollutants must be implemented before selecting the most appropriate method for treatment of technological waste in petroleum industry. A composite sample from COP Žutica was treated in the laboratory using a four-step procedure involving boiling water, condensate, and organophilic clay. Organophilic clay was used because of its ability to sorb hydrophobic pollutants. In the leachate of an E&P waste sample, the lowest values for the majority of inorganic and organic pollutants were observed following the fourth step (treatment with organophilic clay). This is also manifested in the lowest indicator of total discharge (ITD%) values for the fourth treatment step. Considering the concentrations of analyzed parameters in leachates and their ITD% values, the biggest effect for the majority of inorganic and organic pollutants was achieved between the first and the second treatment step. This suggests that treatment with boiling water is the most effective treatment for the majority of inorganic and organic pollutants. Concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene (BETX) in distilled-water leachate generally increase after each succeeding treatment step. This shows that BETX is added to the E&P waste through condensate addition in the third treatment step.

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goran Durn ◽  
Nediljka Gaurina- Med¯imurec ◽  
Heinz Fro¨schl ◽  
Ivan Meandzˇija ◽  
Boris Veronek ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to geochemically and mineralogically assess materials from two already closed pits. Total testing and leachate testing (Equilibrium Leach Test and Sequential Leach Test) of topsoil, waste stabilized with lime and underlying rock was performed on composite samples. An analysis of underground water from underlying rock was also accomplished. Major pollutants in stabilized waste from investigated locations differ. High total values of some heavy metals in stabilized waste from one of the investigated locations can probably be attributed to high barite content (mercury, zinc and cadmium) and pipe dope (lead). Mercury, zinc and cadmium are enriched in the organic-sulfide fraction that might indicate they are tied up as sulfide impurities in barite. In distilled water lecheate of stabilized waste from this location higher concentrations of Pb, Hg and TOC were observed. In the stabilized waste from the second location high total values of total oils and mineral oils, PAH and BTEX were detected, while distilled water lecheate is enriched with Hg, total oils and mineral oils, AOX and TOC. This investigation shows that stabilization with lime is not always a suitable method for treatment of wastes from the petroleum industry, particularly those that are contaminated with both organic and inorganic contaminants. Proper characterization of the waste material to be processed is needed in order to select the most appropriate method of treatment. Our ongoing research study uses different pretreatment techniques and different absorbents (organophilic clay, calcined siliceous earth, etc.) to preferentially absorb organic contaminants that can be used before stabilization/solidification.


Author(s):  
Goran Durn ◽  
Nediljka Gaurina-Međimurec ◽  
Ivan Meandzˇija ◽  
Boris Veronek ◽  
Sanja Mesic´

The aim of this study was geochemical and mineralogical assessment of materials from two already closed pits. Total testing and leachate testing (Equilibrium Leach Test and Sequential Leach Test) of topsoil, waste stabilized with lime and underlying rock was performed on composite samples. Analysis of underground water from underlying rock was also accomplished. Major pollutants in stabilized waste from investigated locations differ. High total values of some heavy metals in stabilized waste from one of the investigated locations can probably be attributed to high barite content (mercury, zinc and cadmium) and pipe dope (lead). Mercury, zinc and cadmium are enriched in the organic-sulfide fraction that might indicate they are tied up as sulfide impurities in barite. In distilled water lecheate of stabilized waste from this location higher concentrations of Pb, Hg and TOC were observed. In the stabilized waste from the second location high total values of TPH, PAH and BTEX were detected, while distilled water lecheate is enriched in Hg, AOX, TOC and TPH. This investigation shows that stabilization with lime is not always suitable method for treatment of wastes from petroleum industry, particularly those that are contaminated with both organic and inorganic contaminants. Proper characterization of the waste material to be processed is needed in order to select the most appropriate method of treatment. Our ongoing research study uses different pretreatment techniques and different absorbents (organophilic clay, zeolite, calcined siliceous earth, etc.) to preferentially absorb organic contaminants that can be used before stabilization/solidification.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tee L. Guidotti

On 16 October 1996, a malfunction at the Swan Hills Special Waste Treatment Center (SHSWTC) in Alberta, Canada, released an undetermined quantity of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the atmosphere, including polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and furans. The circumstances of exposure are detailed in Part 1, Background and Policy Issues. An ecologically based, staged health risk assessment was conducted in two parts with two levels of government as sponsors. The first, called the Swan Hills Study, is described in Part 2. A subsequent evaluation, described here in Part 3, was undertaken by Health Canada and focused exclusively on Aboriginal residents in three communities living near the lake, downwind, and downstream of the SHSWTC of the area. It was designed to isolate effects on members living a more traditional Aboriginal lifestyle. Aboriginal communities place great cultural emphasis on access to traditional lands and derive both cultural and health benefits from “country foods” such as venison (deer meat) and local fish. The suspicion of contamination of traditional lands and the food supply made risk management exceptionally difficult in this situation. The conclusion of both the Swan Hills and Lesser Slave Lake studies was that although POPs had entered the ecosystem, no effect could be demonstrated on human exposure or health outcome attributable to the incident. However, the value of this case study is in the detail of the process, not the ultimate dimensions of risk. The findings of the Lesser Slave Lake Study have not been published previously and are incomplete.


1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 403-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. Rittmann

Microbiological detoxification of hazardous organic pollutants is highly promising, but its reliable implementation requires a sophisticated understanding of several different substrate types and how they interact. This paper carefully defines the substrate types and explains how their interactions affect the bacteria's electron and energy flows, information flow, and degradative activity. For example, primary substrates, which are essential for growth and maintenance of the bacteria, also interact with degradation of specific hazardous pollutants by being inducers, inhibitors, and direct or indirect cosubstrates. The target contaminants, which often are secondary substrates, also have the interactive roles of self-inhibitor, inhibitor of primary-substrate utilization, inducer, and a part of an aggregate primary substrate.


Chemosphere ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 117 ◽  
pp. 673-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sivasankar Annamalai ◽  
Manikandan Santhanam ◽  
Maruthamuthu Sundaram ◽  
Marta Pazos Curras

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tee L. Guidotti

On 16 October 1996, a malfunction at the Swan Hills Special Waste Treatment Center (SHSWTC) in Alberta, Canada, released an undetermined quantity of persistent organic pollutants to the atmosphere. An ecologically based, staged health risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the human health risk, the findings of which are presented in Part 2, on Ecotoxicology and Human Health Risk. The incident resulted in the largest fine for an environmental infraction in Alberta history up to that time. Despite the incident, the province of Alberta has continued to subsidize the facility and has kept it in operation, with changes in management. The policy rationale is that if the facility were not available, accumulation and possible diversion of hazardous waste into illegal disposal alternatives would threaten the environment much more than operation of the plant. This case study illustrates an ecological approach to risk assessment and an attempted culturally sensitive approach to risk management. Incidents in which people are exposed to toxic substances do not occur in a social vacuum. Risk management strategies must be adapted to groups with different cultural values and expectations. Community and individual responses to such incidents, and the development of health advisory messages, may depend on presenting information on exposure and risk in terms consistent with cultural patterns among subpopulations in the community.


2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Vasconcelos ◽  
M.A. Rodrigues ◽  
S.C. Vasconcelos Filho ◽  
J.F. Sales ◽  
F.G. Silva ◽  
...  

"Quina" (Strychnos pseudoquina A. St. Hil) is a medicinal plant species from the Brazilian Cerrado. As its seeds show dormancy, they were subjected to the treatments pre-cooling at 5ºC during 7 days, pre-heating at 40ºC during 7 days, pre-soaking in sulfuric acid PA during 5 and 15 min, pre-soaking in boiling water during 5 and 15 min, pre-soaking in 100 and 200 ppm gibberellic acid during 48 h, pre-soaking in distilled water during 24 and 48 h, and mechanical scarification to break dormancy. Counts were daily conducted from the 2nd day after the experiment implementation until the germination stabilization at the 65th day. The germination speed index (GSI) and the germination percentage were evaluated. Germination rates above 96% were reached in seeds pre-soaked in water during 48 h and substrate moistened with water or KNO3.


Author(s):  
Victor Odhiambo Shikuku ◽  
Wilfrida N. Nyairo ◽  
Chrispin O. Kowenje

Biochars have been extensively applied in soil remediation, carbon sequestration, and in climate change mitigation. However, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in biochar research in water treatment due to their stupendous adsorptive properties for various contaminants. This is attributed to their large surface areas, pore structures, chemical compositions, and low capital costs involved making them suitable candidates for replacing activated carbons. This chapter discusses the preparation methods and properties of biochars and their removal efficacy for organic contaminants and microbial control. Factors affecting adsorption and the mechanisms of adsorption of organic pollutants on biochars are also concisely discussed. Biochars present environmentally benign and low-cost adsorbents for removal of both organic pollutants and microbial control for wastewater purification systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyita Roy ◽  
Sulekha Ghosh ◽  
Probir Kumar Ojha ◽  
Kunal Roy

Nanotechnology has introduced a new generation of adsorbents like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which have drawn a widespread attention due to their outstanding ability for the removal of various inorganic and organic pollutants.


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