Industrial reuse of petrochemical effluents: A case study of ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis

The petrochemical industry uses high volumes of water in its production processes and generates effluents that have a great potential for reuse processes. these is, therefore, an alternative the sustainable development sector. This study aimed at evaluating application ultrafiltration (UF) reverse osmosis (RO) treatment industrial water, reducing environmental impacts caused by disposal soil. experiments were carried out with named waste stabilization pond 1 (WSP-1), 8 (WSP-8) inorganic effluent (INO), which was used as feedwater pilot unit capacity m³.h–1. parameters chosen evaluation treated calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon, color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, suspended solids turbidity. Membrane permeate fluxes determined to evaluate performance system. After characterization each effluent, results compared define most suitable achieve quality required reuse. showed proposed UF/RO provided stable flux WSP-8 effluent. Conversely, other streams accentuated decrease flux, indicates fouling UF RO membranes. As efficiency treatment, process removed compounds interest such COD above 90%, salts EC 92% three assessed effluents. Thus, considering all aspects evaluated this study, be feed system RO. produced presented necessary industries Southern Petrochemical Complex, presenting equivalent characteristics those clarified water. may important source resources face availability scarcity restrictions southern Brazil.