Characteristics, treatment techniques, and operational limitations for refinery wastewater: Review

Shuokr Qarani Aziz; Sazan Mohammed Ali

doi:10.5937/ror2101019A

Authors

Shuokr Qarani Aziz Salahaddin University-Erbil, College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Kurdistan Region, Iraq + Noble Private Institute, Surveying Department, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3458-2083
Sazan Mohammed Ali Salahaddin University-Erbil, College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Iraq + Noble Private Institute, Surveying Department, Erbil, Iraq Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5937/ror2101019A

Keywords:

characteristics, hydrocarbons, refinery, treatment tech

Abstract

Large quantities of wastewater generate from refineries in the process of crude oil usage, distillation, and cooling systems. The wastewater samples need to be treated before disposing into the environment. Disposal of the untreated refinery wastewater causes problems for the water sources and environment. The aim of this work was to study the characteristics, treatment techniques, and limitations of refinery wastewater treatment. A number of tables were prepared to summarize and review wastewater characteristics, treatment process, and the operational limitations. Results revealed that values of some parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phenols, oil and grease, and total suspended solids (TSS) were 40.25 mg/L to 8,000 mg/L, 80 mg/L to 21,000 mg/L, 3.5 mg/L to 128 mg/L, 12.7 mg/L to 50,000 mg/L, and 22.8 to 2,580 mg/L, respectively. Numerous treatment technologies were used for the treatment of refinery wastewater. Treatment techniques have benefits, weaknesses, and operational limitations. Most amount of the TSS, oil and grease, organic materials are eliminated in the primary and secondary treatment units. Tertiary/Advanced treatment units are necessary for removal of the remaining portions of the contaminants, heavy metals, nitrogen compounds, and phosphorus. Combination of physical, chemical and biological treatment techniques increase removal efficiency of the contaminants.

References

Abdelwahab, O., Amin, N.K., El-Ashtoukhy, E.Z. (2009) Electrochemical removal of phenol from oil refinery wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 163(2-3): 711-716

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.07.016

Al, H.W., Maraqa, M.A., Rao, M.V., Hossain, M.M. (2015) Characterization and removal of phenolic compounds from condensate-oil refinery wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment, 54(3): 660-671

https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.884472

Altaher, H., Elqada, E., Omar, W. (2011) Pretreatment of wastewater streams from petroleum/petrochemical industries using coagulation. Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science, 01(04): 245-251

https://doi.org/10.4236/aces.2011.14035

Altaş, L., Büyükgüngör, H. (2008) Sulfide removal in petroleum refinery wastewater by chemical precipitation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 153(1-2): 462-469

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.08.076

Aljuboury, D.A.D.A., Palaniandy, P., Aziz, A.H.B., Feroz, S. (2017) Treatment of petroleum wastewater by conventional and new technologies: A review. Global Nest Journal, 19(3): 439-452

https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.002239

Aljuboury, D.D.A., Palaniandy, P., Aziz, A.H.B., Feroz, S.A. (2014) Review on the Fenton process for wastewater treatment. Journal of Innovative Engineering, 2(3): 1-21

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2015.04.012

Attiogbe, F.K., Glover-Amengor, M., Nyadziehe, K.T. (2007) Correlating biochemical and chemical oxygen demand of effluents: A case study of selected industries in Kumasi, Ghana. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 11(1): 110-118

https://doi.org/10.4314/wajae.v11i1.45722

Aziz, S.Q., Fakhrey, E.S. (2016) The effect of Kawergosk oil refinery wastewater on surrounding water resources. Zanco - Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 28(2): 656-667

Aziz, S.Q., Fakhrey, E.S. (2017) Optimization of aeration style and cycle time for treatment of oil refinery wastewater using powdered activated carbon and sequential batch reactor. Zanco - Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 29(1): 140-153

Aziz, S.Q., Omar, I.A., Bashir, M.J.K., Mojiri, A. (2006) Stage by stage design for primary, conventional activated sludge, SBR and MBBR units for residential wastewater treatment and reusing. Advances in Environmental Research, 9(4): 277-291

Benyahia, F., Abdulkarim, M., Embaby, A. (2006) Refinery wastewater treatment: A true technological challenge. in: 7th Annual U.A.E. University Research Conference, April 22-24, United Arab Emirates University Reseach Affairs, 186-194

Cavalcanti, J.V.F.L., Abreu, C.A.M., Carvalho, M.N., Sobrinho, M.A.M., Benachour, M., Barauna, O.S. (2012) Removal of effluent from petrochemical wastewater by adsorption using organoclay. in: Vivek Patel [ed.] Petrochemicals, Chapter; 277-291; ISBN: 978-953-51-0411-7, 2012, 277-291

Chih-Ju, J.G., Guo-Chiang, H. (2003) A pilot study for oil refinery wastewater treatment using a fixed film bioreactor. Advances in Environmental Research, 7(2): 463-469

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1093-0191(02)00016-3

Coelho, A., Castro, A.V., Dezotti, M., Sant, 3.9.Anna G.L. (2006) Treatment of petroleum refinery sourwater by advanced oxidation processes. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 137(1): 178-184

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.01.051

Dincer, A.R., Karakaya, N., Gunes, E., Gunes, Y. (2013) Removal of COD from oil recovery industry wastewater by the Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) based on H2O2. Global NEST Journal, 10(1): 31-38

https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.000479

Diya'uddeen, B.H., Wan, M.A., Wan, D., Aziz, A.A.R. (2011) Treatment technologies for petroleum refinery effluents: A review. Process Saf. Environ. Protec, 89(2): 95-105

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2010.11.003

Ebrahimi, M., Kazemi, H., Mirbagheri, S.A., Rockaway, T.D. (2016) An optimized biological approach for treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 4(3): 3401-3408

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2016.06.030

El-Ashtoukhy, E.-.S.Z., El-Taweel, Y.A., Abdelwahab, O., Nassef, E.M. (2013) Treatment of petrochemical wastewater containing phenolic compounds by electrocoagulation using a fixed bed electrochemical reactor. International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 8: 1534-1550

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1452-3981(23)14117-4

El-Naas, M., Surkatti, R., Al-Zuhair, S. (2016) Petroleum refinery wastewater treatment: A pilot scale study. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 14: 71-76

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2016.10.005

El-Naas, M.H., Al-Zuhair, S., Alhaija, M.A. (2009) Reduction of COD in refinery wastewater through adsorption on Date-Pit activated carbon. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 173(1-3): 71-76

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.09.002

El-Naas, M.H., Al-Zuhair, S., Al-Lobaney, A., Makhlouf, S. (2009) Assessment of electro-coagulation for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater. Journal of Environmental Management, 91: 180-185

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.08.003

Farajnezhad, H., Gharbani, P. (2012) Coagulation treatment of wastewater in petroleum industry using poly aluminum chloride and ferric chloride. International Journal of Recent Research and Applied Studies, 13(1): 306-310

Gálvez, J.M., Gómez, M.A., Hontoria, E., González-López, J. (2003) Influence of hydraulic loading and air flowrate on urban wastewater nitrogen removal with a submerged fixed-film reactor. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 101(2): 219-229

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(03)00173-0

Gasim, H.A., Kutty, S.R.M., Isa, M., Alemu, L.T. (2013) Optimization of anaerobic treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater using artificial neural networks. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, 6(11): 2077-2082

https://doi.org/10.19026/rjaset.6.3827

González, C., Pariente, M.I., Molina, R., Masa, M.O., Espina, L.G., Melero, J.A., Martínez, F. (2021) Study of highly furfural-containing refinery wastewater streams using a conventional homogeneous Fenton process. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(1): 104894-104894

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104894

Hasan, D.U.B., Aziz, A.A.R., Daud, W.M.A.W. (2012) Oxidative mineralisation of petroleum refinery effluent using Fenton-like process. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 90(2): 298-307

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2011.06.010

Ibrahim, D.S., Lathalakshmi, M., Muthukrishnaraj, A., Balasubramanian, N. (2013) An alternative treatment process for upgrade of petroleum refinery wastewater using electrocoagulation. Petroleum Science, 10(3): 421-430

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-013-0291-4

Ibrahim, H.T., Qiang, H., Al-Rekabi, W.S., Qiqi, Y. (2012) Improvements in biofilm processes for wastewater treatment. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 11(8): 708-734

https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2012.708.734

Jafarinejad, S. (2017) Activated sludge combined with powdered activated carbon (PACT process) for the petroleum industry wastewater treatment: A review. Chemistry International, 3(4): 368-377

Jafarinejad, S., Jiang, S.C. (2019) Current technologies and future directions for treating petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants (PRPP) wastewaters. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 7(5): 103326-103326

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2019.103326

Jain, M., Majumder, A., Ghosal, P.S., Gupta, A.K. (2021) A review on treatment of petroleum refinery and petrochemical plant wastewater: A special emphasis on constructed wetlands. Journal of Environmental Management, 272: 111057-111057

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111057

Jyoti, J., Alka, D., Kumar, S.J. (2013) Application of membrane bio-reactor in waste-water treatment: A review. International Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 3(2): 115-122

Khaing, T.H., Li, J., Li, Y., Wai, N., Wong, F.S. (2010) Feasibility study on petrochemical wastewater treatment and reuse using a novel submerged membrane distillation bioreactor. Separation and Purification Technology, 74(1): 138-143

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2010.05.016

Kulkarni, S.J., Goswami, A.K. (2013) Adsorption studies for organic matter removal from wastewater by using Bagasse Flyash in batch and column operations. Inter. J. Sci. Res, 2: 180-183

Kulkarni, S.J., Goswami, A.K. (2014) Applications and advancements in treatment of waste water by membrane technology: A review. International Journal of Engineering sciences and research Technology, 3: 446-450

Lee, L.Y., Hu, J.Y., Ong, S.L., Ng, W.J., Ren, J.H., Wong, S.H. (2004) Two-stage SBR for treatment of oil refinery wastewater. Water Science and Technology, 50(10): 243-249

https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0655

Lettinga, G., Rebac, S., Zeeman, G. (2001) Challenge of psychrophilic anaerobic wastewater treatment. Trends in Biotechnology, 19(9): 363-370

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-7799(01)01701-2

Ma, F., Guo, J., Zhao, L., Chang, C., Cui, D. (2009) Application of bioaugmentation to improve the activated sludge system into the contact oxidation system treating petrochemical wastewater. Bioresource Technology, 100(2): 597-602

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.06.066

Mahmoudkhani, R., Azar, M.A., Dehghani, A., Ghoreishi, H. (2012) Treatment of contaminated waters with petroleum by moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). in: International Conference on Life Science and Engineering IPCBEE, Singapore: IACSIT Press, 45: 2010-4618; ISSN: 2010-4618

Malamis, S., Katsou, E., di Fabio, S., Frison, N., Cecchi, F., Fatone, F. (2015) Treatment of petrochemical wastewater by employing membrane bioreactors: A case study of effluents discharged to a sensitive water recipient. Desalination and Water Treatment, 53(12): 3397-3406

https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.934112

Manyuchi, M., Ketiwa, E. (2013) Distillery effluent treatment using membrane bioreactor technology utilising pseudomonas fluorescens. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology, 2(12): 1252-1254

Melamane, X.L., Strong, P.J., Burgess, J.E. (2007) Treatment of wine distillery wastewater: A review with emphasis on anaerobic membrane reactors. South African Journal of Enology & Viticulture, 28(1): 25-36

https://doi.org/10.21548/28-1-1456

Mikhak, Y., Torabi, M.M.A., Fouladitajar, A. (2019) Refinery and petrochemical wastewater treatment. in: Sustainable Water and Wastewater Processing, Chapter 3; 55-91

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816170-8.00003-X

Mohanakrishna, G., Abu-Reesh, I.M., Pant, D. (2020) Enhanced bioelectrochemical treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater with Labaneh whey as co-substrate. Scientific Reports, 10: 19665-19665

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76668-0

Mustapha, H.I. (2018) Treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater with constructed wetlands. Delft, Netherlands: Wageningen University, Dissertation; 302

https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429450921

Nasirpour, N., Mousavi, S., Shojaosadati, S. (2015) Biodegradation potential of hydrocarbons in petroleum refinery effluents using a continuous anaerobic-aerobic hybrid system. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 32: 874-881

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-014-0307-9

Nwanyanwu, C.E., Abu, G.O. (2010) In vitro effects of petroleum refinery wastewater on dehydrogenase activity in marine bacterial strains. Ambiente and Água-An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science, 5(2): 21-29

https://doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.133

Paul, T., Baskaran, D., Pakshirajan, K., Pugazhenthi, G., Rajamanickam, R. (2021) Bio-oil production by hydrothermal liquefaction of Rhodococcus opacus biomass utilizing refinery wastewater: Biomass valorization and process optimization. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 21(5): 101326-101326

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2020.101326

Qarani, C.A., Barzanjy, M.J., Talabany, Z.J. (2020) Reducing oil pollution in Kawergosk oil refinery effluent. Zanco - Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 32(5): 26-35

https://doi.org/10.21271/ZJPAS.32.5.3

Radelyuk, I., Tussupova, K., Zhapargazinova, K., Yelubay, M., Persson, M. (2019) Pitfalls of wastewater treatment in oil refinery enterprises in Kazakhstan: A system approach. Sustainability, 11(6): 1618

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061618

Rahi, M.N., Jaeel, A.J., Abbas, A.J. (2021) Treatment of petroleum refinery effluents and wastewater in Iraq: A mini review. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1058(1): 012072

https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1058/1/012072

Rastegar, S.O., Mousavi, S.M., Shojaosadati, S.A., Sheibani, S. (2011) Optimization of petroleum refinery effluent treatment in a UASB reactor using response surface methodology. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 197: 26-32

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.09.052

Ratman, I., Kusworo, T.D., Utomo, D.P., Azizah, D.A., Ayodyasena, W.A. (2020) Petroleum refinery wastewater treatment using three steps modified nanohybrid membrane coupled with ozonation as integrated pre-treatment. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 8(4): 103978-103978

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.103978

Razavi, S.M.R., Miri, T. (2015) A real petroleum refinery wastewater treatment using hollow fiber membrane bioreactor (HF-MBR). Journal of Water Process Engineering, 8: 136-141

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2015.09.011

Renou, S., Givaudan, J.G., Poulain, S., Dirassouyan, F., Moulin, P. (2008) Landfill leachate treatment: Review and opportunity. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 150(3): 468-493

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.09.077

Rodgers, M., Zhan, X.-.M., Gallagher, B. (2003) A pilot plant study using a vertically moving biofilm process to treat municipal wastewater. Bioresource Technology, 89(2): 139-143

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(03)00043-9

Saber, A., Hasheminejad, H., Taebi, A., Ghaffari, G. (2014) Optimization of Fenton-based treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater with scrap iron using response surface methodology. Applied Water Science, 4(3): 283-290

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-013-0144-8

Satyawali, Y., Balakrishnan, M. (2008) Wastewater treatment in molasses-based alcohol distilleries for COD and color removal: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 86(3): 481-497

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.12.024

Shariati, S.R.P., Bonakdarpour, B., Zare, N., Ashtiani, F.Z. (2011) The effect of hydraulic retention time on the performance and fouling characteristics of membrane sequencing batch reactors used for the treatment of synthetic petroleum refinery wastewater. Bioresource Technology, 102(17): 7692-769

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.05.065

Sheela, A.M. (2020) Petroleum refinery wastewater treatment options: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) an emerging technology: Current status and future prospects. Recent Advanced in Petrochemical Science, 7(1): 11-14

Shpiner, R., Vathi, S., Stuckey, D.C. (2009) Treatment of oil well 'produced water' by waste stabilization ponds: Removal of heavy metals. Water Research, 43(17): 4258-4268

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2009.06.004

Sun, Y., Zhang, Y., Quan, X. (2008) Treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater by microwave-assisted catalytic wet air oxidation under low temperature and low pressure. Separation and Purification Technology, 62(3): 565-570

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2008.02.027

Tellez, G.T., Nirmalakhandan, N., Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2002) Performance evaluation of an activated sludge system for removing petroleum hydrocarbons from oilfield produced water. Advances in Environmental Research, 6(4): 455-470

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1093-0191(01)00073-9

Tony, M.A., Purcell, P.J., Zhao, Y. (2012) Oil refinery wastewater treatment using physicochemical, Fenton and photo-Fenton oxidation processes. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A Toxic/hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering, 47(3): 435-440

https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2012.646136

Vendramel, S., Bassin, J.P., Dezotti, M., Sant'Anna, G.L. (2015) Treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater containing heavily polluting substances in an aerobic submerged fixed-bed reactor. Environmental Technology, 36(16): 2052-2059

https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2015.1019933

Wang, L.K., Hung, Y.T., Lo, H.H., Yapijakis, C. (2007) Hazardous industrial waste treatment. New York: CRC Press, 526; ISBN 978-03-6739-023-5

Wang, Y., Wang, Q., Li, M., Yang, Y., He, W., Yan, G., Guo, S. (2016) An alternative anaerobic treatment process for treatment of heavy oil refinery wastewater containing polar organics. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 105: 44-51

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2015.08.012

Yuliwati, E., Ismail, A.F., Matsuura, T., Kassim, M.A., Abdullah, M.S. (2011) Effect of modified PVDF hollow fiber submerged ultrafiltration membrane for refinery wastewater treatment. Desalination, 283: 214-220

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2011.03.049

Zeng, Y., Yang, C., Zhang, J., Pu, W. (2007) Feasibility investigation of oily wastewater treatment by combination of zinc and PAM in coagulation/flocculation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 147(3): 991-996

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.01.129

Zhao, J.H., Wang, Y.M., Ye, Z.F., Borthwick, A.G.L., Ni, J. (2006) Oil field wastewater treatment in biological aerated filter by immobilized microorganisms. Process Biochemistry, 41(7): 1475-1483

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2006.02.006

Zheng, T.A. (2016) A compact process for treating oilfield wastewater by combining hydrolysis acidification, moving bed biofilm, ozonation and biologically activated carbon techniques. Environmental Technoogy, 37(9): 1171-1178

https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2015.1105301

Zou, X. (2015) Treatment of heavy oil wastewater by UASB - BAFs using the combination of yeast and bacteria. Environmental Technology, 36(18): 2381-2389

https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2015.1030346

Zueva, S., Corradini, V., Ruduka, E., Veglio, F. (2020) Treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater by physicochemical methods. E3S Web of Conferences, 161: 01042-01042; ICEPP

https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202016101042