Cleaning of ceramic membranes for produced water filtration

Abstract

The application of ceramic microfiltration membranes to the tertiary treatment of produced water from an Arabian Gulf oilfield has been studied using a dedicated pilot plant. Studies were based on a previously published protocol in which the retentate stream was recycled so as to successively increase the feed concentration throughout the experimental run. Chemical cleaning in place (CIP) was applied between each run and the flux and permeability recovery recorded for various cleaning protocols studied, the CIP being based on the combination of caustic soda (NaOH) and citric acid. Surface analysis of the membrane, and specifically its hydrophilicity, was also conducted.Results indicated the main influencing factor on permeability recovery from the CIP to be the employment of backflushing during the CIP itself. A final flux of 700 L m -2 h -1 was sustained through the application of 6 wt% NaOH with 6 wt% citric acid combined with backflushing at approximately twice the rate of the filtration cycle flux. A consideration of the impact of this flux value on the viability of two commercially-available ceramic membrane technologies indicated the footprint incurred to be slightly lower than that of the upstream induced gas flotation technology and corroborated a previously published estimate. The flux was sustained despite surface analysis indicating a loss of the innate hydrophilicity of the ceramic membrane.

Cleaning Methods for Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membranes Affected by Organic Fouling

“…Controversial information is available concerning this topic ( Table 3 ). [ 79 ] tested alkali–acid and acid–alkali sequenced cleaning procedures for ceramic membranes and found no significant difference in results.…”

The Role of Membrane-Based Technologies in Environmental Treatment and Reuse of Produced Water

“…Furthermore, the combination of a wider tolerance of pressure and cleaning chemicals lead to yield more stable permeability in ceramic membranes. For instance, a sustainable flux of 700 [ L m 2 .hr ] with a permeability of 1,400 [ L m 2 .hr.bar ] has been reported by using silicon carbide MF ceramic membranes, fed by PW from an oilfield in the Persian Gulf (Zsirai et al, 2018). Moreover, more than 99% oil removal has been accomplished by using commercial α-alumina MF ceramic membranes (0.8 µm pore size), fed by synthetic PW containing 250-1,000 ppm concentrations of heavy crude oil droplets of 1-10 micron diameter (Mueller et al, 1997;Al-Ghouti et al, 2019); in all these experiments, the permeate contained <2 ppm total hydrocarbons (Mueller et al, 1997).…”

Elaboration and properties of low-cost ceramic microfiltration membrane from local Tunisian clay for wastewater treatment

“…Since 1962, membranes have emerged as a water purification medium. In fact, this technology has proven to be faster, more effective, and less costly than the means of traditional separation to meet the needs of water consumption [1,2]. The membrane processes are now well established, replacing the techniques of conventional separation [3] Today, they are used as a means of separation and filtration in various economic sectors such as agro-food, biotechnology, chemical industry, domestic, and industrial sewage treatment wastewater causing serious environmental problems and mainly on human health.…”