Scales, produced water treatment removal

In Hydrocyclones A Solution to Produced Water Treatment, Meldrum presents the basic design principle of a dc-oilmg hydrocy leone. System design, early operational experiences, and test results on a full-scale application in the North Sea are discussed. Oil-removal efficiency was seen to rise with increasing reject ratio up to around 1%, producing acceptable outlet concentrations Early field test results on a tension leg platform in the North Sea are discussed. Preliminary data on a pumped system are also given. 

Color can be removed effectively and economically with either alum or ferric sulfate at pH values of 5—6 and 3—4, respectively. The reaction is stoichiometric and is a specific reaction of the coagulant with the color to form an insoluble compound (17). The dosage required may be as high as 100—150 mg/L (380—570 mg/gal). Raw-water colors may be as high as 450—500 units on the APHA color scale. The secondary MCL (maximum contaminant level) for color in the finished water is 15 units, although most municipal treatment plants produce water that seldom exceeds 5 units. 

Although the presence of hardness is reported as calcium carbonate, in reality, for most water supplies the most common major contributors to total dissolved solids are calcium and magnesium bicarbonates. These dissolved solids most readily produce crystalline scales and thus predominantly contribute to boiler system deposits unless removed by some form of pre-boiler, external treatment process. 

This process, according to the manufacturer,54 has been developed in such a way that space requirements are kept to a minimum. A BIOPAQ IC reactor is used as the initial step in the treatment process. The name of this anaerobic reactor is derived from the gas-lift driven internal circulation that is generated within a tall, cylindrical vessel. These reactors have been operational in the paper industry since 1996. The second step in the purification process is a mechanically mixed and aerated tank. The aerating injectors can be cleaned in a simple way without the need to empty the aeration tank. Potential scaling materials are combined into removable fine particles. At the same time, the materials that may cause an odor nuisance are oxidized into odorless components. The process can be completed by a third and a fourth step. The third step focuses on suspended solids recovery and removal. The fourth step is an additional water-softening step with lamella separation and continuous sand filters in order to produce fresh water substitute. The benefits claimed by the manufacturer are as follows54 ... 

Considerable information of a general nature is available for uncontaminated water subject to the production of disinfection byproducts. The mutagens produced by drinking water chlorination appear to be numerous, but they exist either at low levels or are of low potency. For both the unresolved mixtures and for the few mutagenic compounds thus far identified, activity is readily reduced or destroyed by treatment with alkali or 4-nitrothiophenol and may be removed by GAC treatment. From water sources subject both to mutagen formation via disinfection and to periodic contamination by toxic chemicals, experimental full-scale GAC treatment systems have provided mutagen-free water. 

---