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Title: Membrane ultrafiltration of sulfonates and oil from micellar flooding wastewaters. Final report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6047932· OSTI ID:6047932

Two membrane ultrafilters were tested with simulated micellar-flood wastewaters. The waters were brine containing oil, sulfonate, butyl alcohol, and polymer. Two sulfonates, one essentially oil-soluble and one essentially water-soluble, were used. The polymer used was polyacrylamide, except for a few runs done with xanthan gum. The membranes produced permeates containing very little oil, sulfonate or polymer. The butyl alcohol apparently passed through quantitatively. The cellulosic membrane tested was more effective than the polymeric membrane in that it gave better flux rates and was easier to clean when fouled. A field sample was run with the cellulosic membrane. The field sample contained crude-oil sulfonate which, unlike the commercial surfactants used in the simulated wastewaters, passed through the membrane almost quantitatively. Membrane ultrafiltration will not be of use in purifying water containing such sulfonates.

Research Organization:
Tulsa Univ., OK (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-77EV05596
OSTI ID:
6047932
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/05596-T1; ON: DE81029978
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English