Deturbidization of Petroleum-Produced Water by Novel Mucuna Seed: Characterization, Kinetics, and Statistical Analyses

Abstract

This work studied the removal of produced water (PW) turbidity by novel Mucuna seed coagulant (MSC) using single-angle nephelometry. MSC was a by-product of sequential ethanol-multiple salt oil extraction from the Mucuna seed. The process kinetics, statistics, and purification efficiency at varying PW pH levels and MSC dosages were investigated. The precursor (Mucuna flagellipes seed), bio-coagulant (MSC), and generated sludge after treatment (GSAT) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopic (SEM)/elemental analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). At the optimum, 200 mg/L MSC dosage, pH 4, and 2400-s settling time were obtained for rate constant of 9E−06 L g −1 s −1. The precursor, MSC, and GSAT were of a compact network/primitive lattice structure and thermally stable. MSC and alum comparatively recorded maximum treatment efficiencies of 98.03 and 96.41%, respectively. Within the experimental conditions, it could be concluded that MSC was relatively more effective for the purification of PW.