Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Integration of biofiltration and advanced oxidation processes for tertiary treatment of an oil refinery wastewater aiming at water reuse

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The combination of biological and chemical oxidation processes is an interesting approach to remove ready, poor, and non-biodegradable compounds from complex industrial wastewaters. In this study, biofiltration followed by H2O2/UV oxidation (or microfiltration) and final reverse osmosis (RO) step was employed for tertiary treatment of an oil refinery wastewater. Biofiltration alone allowed obtaining total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV254), ammonium, and turbidity removal of around 46, 46, 23, 50, and 61 %, respectively. After the combined biological-chemical oxidation treatment, TOC and UV254 removal amounted to 88 and 79 %, respectively. Whereas, the treatment performance achieved with different UV lamp powers (55 and 95 W) and therefore distinct irradiance levels (26.8 and 46.3 mW/cm2, respectively) were very similar and TOC and UV254 removal rates were highly affected by the applied C/H2O2 ratio. Silt density index (SDI) was effectively reduced by H2O2/UV oxidation, favoring further RO application. C/H2O2 ratio of 1:4, 55 W UV lamp, and 20-min oxidation reaction corresponded to the experimental condition which provided the best cost/benefit ratio for TOC, UV254, and SDI reduction from the biofilter effluent. The array of treatment processes proposed in this study has shown to be adequate for tertiary treatment of the oil refinery wastewater, ensuring the mitigation of membrane fouling problems and producing a final effluent which is suitable for reuse applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Abdelwahab O, Amin NK, El-Ashtoukhy ESZ (2009) Electrochemical removal of phenol from oil refinery wastewater. J Hazard Mater 163:711–716

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andreozzi R, Caprio V, Insola A, Marotta R (1999) Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for water purification and recovery. Catal Today 53:51–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andreozzi R, Caprio V, Marotta R, Vogna D (2003) Paracetamol oxidation from aqueous solutions by means of ozonization and UV/H2O2 system. Water Res 37:993–1004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonopoulou M, Evgenidou E, Lambropoulou D, Konstantinou I (2014) A review on advanced oxidation processes for the removal of taste and odor compounds from aqueous media. Water Res 53:215–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA, AWWA, WEF (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D4189-07 (2014) Standard test method for silt density index (SDI) of water. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. doi:10.1520/D4189

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker RW (2004) Reversis osmosis—membrane fouling control. In: Membrane technology and applications, 2nd edn. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, California, pp 217–219

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bustillo-Lecompte CF, Knight M, Mehrvar M (2015) Assessing the performance of UV/H2O2 as a pretreatment process in TOC removal of an actual petroleum refinery wastewater and its inhibitory effects on activated sludge. Can J Chem Eng 93:798–807

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chavan A, Mukherji S (2008) Treatment of hydrocarbon-rich wastewater using oil degrading bacteria and phototrophic microorganisms in rotating biological contactor: effect of N:P ratio. J Hazard Mater 154:63–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coelho A, Castro AV, Dezotti M, Sant’Anna GL Jr (2006) Treatment of petroleum refinery sourwater by advanced oxidation processes. J Hazard Mater B137:178–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comninellis C, Kapalka A, Malato S, Parsons SA, Poulios I, Mantzavinos D (2008) Advanced oxidation processes for water treatment: advances and trends for R&D. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 83:769–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrêa AXR, Tiepo EN, Somensi CA, Sperb RM, Radetski CM (2010) Use of ozone-photocatalytic oxidation (O3 /UV/TiO2) and biological remediation for treatment of produced water from petroleum refineries. J Environ Eng 136(1):40–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diya’uddeen BH, Pouran SR, Aziz ARA, Nashwan SM, Daud WMAW, Shaaban MG (2015) Hybrid of Fenton and sequencing batch reactor for petroleum refinery wastewater treatment. J Ind Eng Chem 25:186–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dos Santos VL, Veiga AA, Mendonça RS, Alves AL, Pagnin S, Santiago VM (2005) Reuse of refinery’s tertiary-treated wastewater in cooling towers: microbiological monitoring. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:2945–2955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Naas MH, Al-Zuhair S, Al-Lobaney A, Makhlouf S (2009) Assessment of electrocoagulation for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater. J Environ Manag 91:180–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EPA—Environmental Protection Agency (2004) Guidelines for Water Reuse. EPA/625/R-04/108, Washington, DC

  • EPA—Environmental Protection Agency (2012) Guidelines for Water Reuse. EPA/600/R-14/618, Washington, DC

  • Esplugas S, Gimenez J, Contreras S, Pascual E, Rodríguez M (2002) Comparison of different advanced oxidation processes for phenol degradation. Water Res 36:1034–1042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galvão SAO, Mota ALN, Silva DN, Moraes JEF, Nascimento CAO, Chiavone-Filho O (2006) Application of the photo-Fenton process to the treatment of wastewaters contaminated with diesel. Sci Total Environ 367:42–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harremoës P (1982) Criteria for nitrification in fixed film reactors. Water Sci Technol 14:167–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Hozalski RM, Goel S, Bouwer EJ (1995) TOC removal in biological filters. J AWWA 87(12):40–54

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu X, Wang X, Ban Y, Ren B (2011) A comparative study of UV-Fenton, UV-H2O2 and Fenton reaction treatment of landfill leachate. Environ Technol 32:945–951

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang WJ, Chen LY, Peng HS (2004) Effect of NOM characteristics on brominated organics formation by ozonation. Environ Int 29:1049–1055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjärstad J, Johnsson F (2014) Fossil fuels: climate change and security of supply. Int J Sustainable Water Environ Syst 4:79–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahnsteiner J, Klegraf F, Mittal R, Andrade P (2007) Reclamation of wastewater for industrial purposes—advanced treatment of secondary effluents for reuse as boiler and cooling make-up water. 6th IWA Specialist Conference on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse for Sustainability, 1–8

  • Lamsal R, Walsh ME, Gagnon GA (2011) Comparison of advanced oxidation processes for the removal of natural organic matter. Water Res 45:3263–3269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li K, Hokanson DR, Crittenden JC, Trussell RR, Minakata D (2008) Evaluating UV/H2O2 processes for methyl tert-butyl ether and tertiary butyl alcohon removal: effect of pretreatment options and light sources. Water Res 42:5045–5053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma F, Guo JB, Zhao LJ, Chang CC, Cui D (2009) Application of bioaugmentation to improve the activate sludge system into the contact oxidation system treatment petrochemical wastewater. Bioresource Technol 100:597–602

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madoni P (1994) Quantitative importance of ciliated protozoa in activated sludge and biofilm. Bioresource Technol 48:245–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzeo DEC, Levy CE, Angelis DF, Marin-Morales MAM (2010) BTEX biodegradation by bacteria from effluents of petroleum refinery. Sci Total Environ 20:4334–4340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melin ES, Odegaard H (1999) Biofiltration of ozonated humic water in expanded clay aggregate filters. Water Sci Technol 40:165–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melin ES, Bohne RA, Sjovold F, Odegaard H (2000) Treatment of ozonated water in biofilters containing different media. Water Sci Technol 41:57–60

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalf X, Eddy X (2003) Wastewater engineering, treatment, disposal and reuse. In: Techobanoglous G, Burton FL, Stensel HD (ed), 4th edn. McGraw-Hill Book, New York

  • Moraes JEF, Silva DN, Quina FH, Chiavone-Filho O, Nascimento CAO (2004) Utilization of solar energy in the photodegradation of gasoline in water and of oil-field-produced water. Environ Sci Technol 38:3746–3751

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgenroth E, Wilderer PA (2000) Influence of detachment mechanisms on competition in biofilms. Water Res 34:417–426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munter R (2001) Advanced oxidation processes—current status and prospects. Proc Est Acad Sci Chem 50(2):59–80

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muruganandham M, Suri RP, Sillanpää M, Wu JJ, Ahmmad B, Balachandran S, Swaminathan M (2014) Recent developments in heterogeneous catalyzed environmental remediation processes. J Nanosci Nanothecnol 14:1898–1910

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nogueira RFP, Oliveira MC, Paterlini WC (2005) Simple and fast spectrophotometric determination of H2O2 in photo-Fenton reactions using metavanadate. Talanta 66(1):86–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oller I, Malato S, Sánchez-Pérez JÁ (2011) Combination of advanced oxidation processes and biological treatment for wastewater decontamination—a review. Sci Total Environ 20:4141–4166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parilti NB (2010) Treatment of a petrochemical industry wastewater by a solar oxidation process using the Box-Wilson experimental design method. Ekoloji 19(77):9–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raffin M, Germain E, Judd S (2013) Wastewater polishing using membrane technology: a review of existing installations. Environ Technol 34:617–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reungoat J, Escher BI, Macova M, Keller J (2011) Biofiltration of wastewater treatment plant effluent: effective removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products and reduction of toxicity. Water Res 45:2751–2762

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reungoat J, Escher B, Macova M, Farré MJ, Argaud FX, Rattier M, Dennis PG, Gernjak W, Keller J (2012) Biofiltration for advanced treatment of wastewater. Urban Water Security Research Alliance Technical Report 73:1–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Ried A, Mielche J, Kampmann M (2006) The right treatment step ozone and ozone/H2O2 for the degradation of none-biodegradable COD. Proceeding, Wasser Berlin 2006: International Conference Ozone and UV, April 3rd pp 25–33

  • Saien J, Nejati H (2007) Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in petroleum refinery wastewater under mild conditions. J Hazard Mater 148:491–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos MRG, Goulart MOF, Tonholo J, Zanta CLPS (2006) The application of electrochemical technology to the remediation of oily wastewater. Chemosphere 64:393–399

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider EE, Cerqueira ACFP, Dezotti M (2011) MBBR evaluation for oil refinery wastewater treatment, with post-ozonation and BAC, for wastewater reuse. Water Sci Technol 63:143–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Souza BM, Cerqueira AC, Sant’Anna GL Jr, Dezotti M (2011) Oil-refinery wastewater treatment aiming reuse by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) combined with biological activated carbon (BAC). Ozone Sci Eng 33:403–409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stepnowski P, Siedleckaa EM, Behrendb P, Jastorff B (2002) Enhanced photo-degradation of contaminants in petroleum refinery wastewater. Water Res 36:2167–2172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Zhang YB, Quan X (2008) Treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater by microwave-assisted catalytic wet air oxidation under low temperature and low pressure. Sep Purif Technol 62:565–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wert EC, Rosario-Ortiza FL, Druryb DD, Snyder SA (2007) Formation of oxidation by products from ozonation of wastewater. Water Res 41:1481–1490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wijeyekoona S, Minob T, Satohb H, Matsuo T (2004) Effects of substrate loading rate on biofilm structure. Water Res 38:2479–2488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Boyd JM, Woodbeck M, Andrews RC, Qin F, Hrudey SE, Li X (2008) Formation of N-nitrosamines from eleven disinfection treatments of seven different surface waters. Environ Sci Technol 42:4857–4862

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhidong L, Yebin D, Xincheng X (2010) An aerated biofilter for treating petrochemical wastewater. Pet Sci Technol 28:1147–1157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zoschke K, Dietrich N, Börnick H, Worch E (2012) UV-based advanced oxidation processes for the treatment of odour compounds: efficiency and by-product formation. Water Res 46:5365–5373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Capes and CNPq for providing the financial support necessary to develop this research. Great thanks also go to Petrobras which provided the wastewater source, object of this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. COPPE—Chemical Engineering Program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, P.O. Box 68502, 21941-972, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    A. A. Nogueira, J. P. Bassin & M. Dezotti

  2. CENPES—Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Leopoldo Américo Miguez de Mello—Petrobras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    A. C. Cerqueira

Authors
  1. A. A. Nogueira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. P. Bassin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. C. Cerqueira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Dezotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. P. Bassin.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

Electronic supplementary material

Supplementary material associated with this article can be found in the online version.

ESM 1

(DOC 10797 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nogueira, A.A., Bassin, J.P., Cerqueira, A.C. et al. Integration of biofiltration and advanced oxidation processes for tertiary treatment of an oil refinery wastewater aiming at water reuse. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 9730–9741 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-6034-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-6034-x

Keywords