P A Sosa-Fernandez1, S J Miedema2, H Bruning3, F A M Leermakers4, H H M Rijnaarts5, J W Post6. 1. Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology. P.O. Box 1113, 8911 CC Leeuwarden, Netherlands; Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: paulina.sosafernandez@wetsus.nl. 2. Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology. P.O. Box 1113, 8911 CC Leeuwarden, Netherlands. 3. Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: harry.bruning@wur.nl. 4. Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8038, 6700 EK Wageningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: frans.leermakers@wur.nl. 5. Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: huub.rijnaarts@wur.nl. 6. Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology. P.O. Box 1113, 8911 CC Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Electronic address: jan.post@wetsus.nl.
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS: Anion exchange membranes (AEMS) are particularly prone to fouling when employed to desalinate polymer flooding produced water (PFPW), an abundant sub-product from the oil and gas industry. The formation of fouling on an AEM will be affected by the composition of the solution, which includes various dissolved salts, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), crude oil, and surfactants. EXPERIMENTS: Electrodialysis experiments were performed to desalinate feed solutions with different compositions, aiming to distinguish between their individual and combined effects. The solutions contained diverse mono- and divalent ions. The analysis included data collected during the desalination and characterization of the fouled AEMs by diverse analytical techniques. FINDINGS: HPAM produced the most severe effects in terms of visible fouling and increase of resistance. This polyelectrolyte fouls the AEM by adsorbing on its surface and by forming a viscous gel layer that hampers the replenishment of ions from the bulk solution. Ca and Mg have a large influence on the formation of thick HPAM gel layers, while the oily compounds have only a minimal influence acting mainly as a destabilizing agent. The membranes also presented scaling consisting of calcium precipitates. The effects of the gel layer were minimized by applying current reversal and foulant-free solution.
HYPOTHESIS: Anion exchange membranes (AEMS) are particularly prone to fouling when employed to desalinate polymer flooding produced water (PFPW), an abundant sub-product from the oil and gas industry. The formation of fouling on an AEM will be affected by the composition of the solution, which includes various dissolved salts, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), crude oil, and surfactants. EXPERIMENTS: Electrodialysis experiments were performed to desalinate feed solutions with different compositions, aiming to distinguish between their individual and combined effects. The solutions contained diverse mono- and divalent ions. The analysis included data collected during the desalination and characterization of the fouled AEMs by diverse analytical techniques. FINDINGS:HPAM produced the most severe effects in terms of visible fouling and increase of resistance. This polyelectrolyte fouls the AEM by adsorbing on its surface and by forming a viscous gel layer that hampers the replenishment of ions from the bulk solution. Ca and Mg have a large influence on the formation of thick HPAM gel layers, while the oily compounds have only a minimal influence acting mainly as a destabilizing agent. The membranes also presented scaling consisting of calcium precipitates. The effects of the gel layer were minimized by applying current reversal and foulant-free solution.
Authors: Mariana Rodrigues; Thiago T de Mattos; Tom Sleutels; Annemiek Ter Heijne; Hubertus V M Hamelers; Cees J N Buisman; Philipp Kuntke Journal: ACS Sustain Chem Eng Date: 2020-11-18 Impact factor: 8.198