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De Silva%2c Chamara accepted thesis 04-13-16 Sp 16.pdf (4.79 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment
Author Info
De Silva, Chamara L.
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2016, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Chemical Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
Abstract
The U.S. oil/gas industry generates over 21 billion barrels of produced water annually. This wastewater stream contains a host of components including suspended solids, dissolved solids, and hydrocarbons. This waste stream represents a significant beneficial resource if reused to offset other water consumption demands. However, many beneficial reuse applications have strict hydrocarbon limits. Oxidation of hydrocarbons in supercritical water media provides an effective removal technique allowing wastewater reuse. In order to quickly and effectively remove hydrocarbons in supercritical water a heterogeneous catalyst is needed. In this study, an MnO
2
catalyst on a TiO
2
support was synthesized and evaluated for removal of phenol in supercritical water. Synthesized catalysts were characterized using temperature programmed reduction, pulse chemisorptions and X-ray powder diffraction. Catalyst activity for phenol conversion was evaluated in a continuous packed bed reactor at supercritical water conditions, while analyzing vapor and liquid products. Evaluated process variables included free O
2
concentration and the catalyst Mn loading. Both variables had positive effects on phenol conversion. The process reached complete destruction of phenol at an O
2
level of 500% of the stoichiometric O
2
for complete oxidation. Increase in catalyst Mn loading increased its active sites concentration enhancing the contribution of heterogeneous reaction kinetics for phenol supercritical water oxidation (SCWO); however a saturation limit appeared to be reached as Mn loading is further increased. A part of the Mn composition appeared to be unable to create active sites on the catalyst due to interactions with TiO
2
. A phenol conversion of 70% was reached at 12% (w/w) Mn in the catalyst with 100% excess O
2
.
Committee
Jason Trembly, PhD (Advisor)
David Young, PhD (Committee Member)
Marc Singer, PhD (Committee Member)
Natalie Kruse, PhD (Committee Member)
Pages
127 p.
Subject Headings
Chemical Engineering
;
Energy
;
Engineering
;
Environmental Engineering
Keywords
Supercritical
;
produced water
;
catalyst
;
MnO2
;
TiO2
;
phenol
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Refworks
EndNote
RIS
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Citations
De Silva, C. L. (2016).
Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment
[Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958
APA Style (7th edition)
De Silva, Chamara.
Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment.
2016. Ohio University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958.
MLA Style (8th edition)
De Silva, Chamara. "Removal of Phenol from Oil/Gas Wastewater by Catalytic Supercritical Water Treatment." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1460630958
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
ohiou1460630958
Download Count:
1,599
Copyright Info
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.