Evaluation of pretreatment and membrane configuration for pressure-retarded osmosis application to produced water from the petroleum industry

Pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) is a promising membrane technology for harnessing the osmotic energy of saline solutions. PRO typically considered with seawater/river water pairings however greater can be recovered from hypersaline solutions including produced (PW) petroleum industry. One major challenges facing utilization PW its high fouling propensity on membranes. In this unique experimental evaluation, real different sites was pretreated to varying degrees: i) minimal, ii) intermediate, and iii) extensive. The treated effluent subsequently used testing rates were assessed configurations over multiple cycles. Commercial grade flat sheet (FLS) coupons novel hollow fiber (HF) modules compared validate lower HF membranes in application. When minimally (10-micron cartridge filtration (CF)) tested FLS mode, severe occurred flux decreased by 60%. contrast, showed <1% decrease under both minimal intermediate pretreatment schemes. Extensive (1-micron CF, dissolved air flotation (DAF), powdered activated carbon, microfiltration) reduced decline <1%. These results confirm that suitable levels application avoid fouling. Further validation these methods requires long term pilot techno-economic assessment. • evaluation industry Real oil production testing. Several physical physicochemical processes Novel hollow-fibers are less prone flatsheet