Title: Emulsion separation and fouling of electrospun polyacrylonitrile membranes for produced water applications

Abstract

Produced water (PW) is a complex mixture generated during oil and gas extraction. Membrane fouling by hydrocarbon emulsions (sizes < 10 µm) challenges most PW treatment systems. Electrospinning has the possibility of creating microporous membranes that present unique performance properties, though evaluations of these characteristics are largely restricted to unrealistic dead-end configurations. Three different nanofibrous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes were synthesized by electrospinning and their performances contrasted with a commercially available PAN membrane. Feed solutions included synthetic oil and solvent emulsions and a PW from an operating well-site. Two nanoparticles, polyaniline (PANI) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), were studied for enhancing the oleophobicity and fouling properties of the electrospun PAN membranes. Electrospun membranes showed higher porosities (68 to 80 %) and water permeance values (9,000 to 10,000 LMH/bar) relative to that for the commercially available PAN membrane (44 % and 8,800 LMH/bar). All electrospun membranes provided superior performance characteristics when treating the emulsions and PW relative to the commercial membrane. Furthermore, the PANI integrated membrane demonstrated the greatest resistance to oil/solvent emulsion fouling and comparable performance to the RGO and PAN membrane treating the PW.

Authors:

Butler, Elizabeth M. ^[1]; Brant, Jonathan A. ^[1]

---

+ Show Author Affiliations

1. University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)

Publication Date:

Sun Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2022

Research Org.:

Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

OSTI Identifier:

2004665

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1899385

Grant/Contract Number:  

FE0031855

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Separation and Purification Technology

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 306; Journal ID: ISSN 1383-5866

Publisher:

Elsevier

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

03 NATURAL GAS; Produced water; Oil and grease fouling; Electrospinning; Filtration