Characterization of oily sludge from a refinery and biodegradability assessment using various hydrocarbon degrading strains and reconstituted consortia

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE 
Characterization of oily sludge from a refinery and biodegradability assessment using various hydrocarbon degrading strains and reconstituted consortia

Type	Journal Article
Author	Jublee Jasmine
Author	Suparna Mukherji
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479714004976
Volume	149
Pages	118-125
Publication	Journal of Environmental Management
Date	February 1, 2015
Abstract	Oily sludge obtained from a refinery in India contained 10–11% oil associated with fine particulates. Along with Fe, Ca and Mg various toxic elements were associated with the sludge solids. The oil contained 41–56% asphaltenes and the maltenes comprised of 49 ± 4%, 42 ± 2% and 4 ± 2%, aliphatic, aromatic and polar fractions, respectively. Biodegradation studies with the maltene fraction of oil provided as sole substrate revealed higher degradation by various 3-5 membered reconstituted consortia compared to pure bacterial strains and up to 42 ± 8% degradation could be achieved over 30 days. Over the same period, in contrast, up to 71.5 ± 2% oil degradation could be achieved using dried oily sludge as sole substrate. Significant biodegradation in the un-inoculated controls indicated the presence of indigenous microorganisms in oily sludge. However, researchers noted large variability in oil degradation in the un-inoculated controls. Greater biodegradation of the maltene fraction led to significant enrichment of asphaltenes in residual oil associated with the sludge.

The effects of Fenton process on the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from oily sludge in Shiraz oil refinery, Iran

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering 2014, 12:31
The effects of Fenton process on the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from oily sludge in Shiraz oil refinery, Iran
Mehdi Farzadkia (1), Mansooreh Dehghani (2) and Maryam Moafian (2)
Abstract
Due to the high concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in oily sludge and their environmental hazards, the concern regarding their effects on health and the environment has increased. The main objective of this research was focused on evaluating the feasibility of using Fenton process in removing TPH in oily sludge from Shiraz oil refinery, Southern Iran.
Results: To determine optimum conditions, four different parameters were assessed at four different levels using Taguchi method. According to data, the optimum conditions were as follows: the reaction time of 1 hour, H2O2 to sample mass ratio of 15, H2O2 to Fe (II) molar ratio of 10 and pH of 5. The maximum TPH reduction rate was 36.47%. Because of the semi-solid nature of the sample and the hydroxyl radicals mainly generated in the aqueous solution, TPH reduction rate greatly improved by adding water. Ultimately, by adding 40 ml water per gram of the oily sludge under optimized conditions, the reduction rate of 73.07% was achieved.
Conclusions: The results demonstrated that this method can be used as a pre-treatment method for the oily sludge. Moreover, a complementary treatment is necessary to reach the standard limit.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/2052-336X-12-31.pdf 

Petroleum Refinery Oily Sludge: The Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis Of Its Composition

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
Indian Streams Research Journal, Volume-3, Issue-10, Nov-2013
Petroleum Refinery Oily Sludge: The Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis Of Its Composition
Bipin Kumar And Raj Mohan B.
Department of Chemical Engineering, NITK, Surathkal, India
Abstract:
The quantity of oily sludge generated by refineries is huge and growing. The composition of oily sludge is very complex. It is compose of a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons, asphaltenes, long chain paraffinic wax, waste water, sediments and metals.
Sludge has become an important environmental and public health issue in India and disposal of excess sludge will be forbidden in the near future. Moreover as crude reserves decline, refiners attempt to extract as much valuables as possible from the crude and from the left over sludge before disposing of it.This research work is aimed to analyze the composition of the refinery oily sludge. The insight in the composition of refinery oily sludge will facilitate refiners to find a way for improving the recovery of valuables from oily sludge and for economical, fast and eco-friendly disposal of treated sludge.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.isrj.net/UploadedData/3234.pdf  

Thermogravimetric monitoring of oil refinery sludge

CATEGORY: OIL SLUDGE
Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Available online 23 September 2013, In Press, Accepted Manuscript Thermogravimetric monitoring of oil refinery sludge
Agustín G. Barneto (a), Julia Moltó (b), José Ariza (a), Juan A. Conesa (b)
a Department of Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, University of Huelva (Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario, ceiA3)
b Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante
Abstract
Authors show that thermogravimetric analysis can be used to perform fast characterization of oil refinery sludge. To do so, they deconvoluted thermogravimetric curves using autocatalytic kinetics to take into account acceleration phases in a thermal degradation performed in oxygen-containing atmosphere or at high heating rates.
They also show that Soxhlet extraction allows recovery of almost half of the weight of sludge as a mixture of hydrocarbons, similar to gas-oil, which burns without residue. The result is both, waste inerting and significant reduction in sludge volume.
Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165237013002027

Oil sludge contaminated soil bioremediation via composting using refinery treatment plant sludge and different bulking agents

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
2013 IEEE Business Engineering and Industrial Applications Colloquium (BEIAC), 7-9 April 2013, Page(s): 832 – 835, Langkawi
Oil sludge contaminated soil bioremediation via composting using refinery treatment plant sludge and different bulking agents
Malakahmad, A. ; Jaafar, N.
Civil Eng. Dept., Univ. Teknol. PETRONAS, Tronoh, Malaysia
Abstract
Bioremediation uses oil degrading microorganisms to remediate contaminated soil. Air is a essential for activation of these microorganisms. Air circulation in the system can be enhanced by adding bulky wastes or by-products. Authors present results of a study in which co-composting of oil sludge contaminated soil from a local refinery plant was investigated using dry yard waste (CI) and nonrecyclable paper (CII) as bulking agents.
Researchers constructed 16 L cubic composters from plexiglass. Composters were open at the top and had number of holes at the bottom and sides. The soil was spiked with petroleum refinery sludge. The seeding materials as source of microorganisms was brought from the same refinery plant wastewater treatment facility. The composters were cultivated weekly. Water was added occasionally to maintain moisture content. Results show the temperature profile for both composters were built up after initial weeks. M The composting degradation rate kinetics indicates that the TPH concentrations will reach less than 100 mg/kg after 23 weeks of degradation.
Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6560252

Removal of hydrocarbon from refinery tank bottom sludge employing microbial culture

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, June 2013
Removal of hydrocarbon from refinery tank bottom sludge employing microbial culture
Rashmi Rekha Saikia, Suresh Deka
Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Institute of Advanced Study in Science & Technology (IASST), Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, 781 035, Assam, India
Abstract
The literature on the removal of hydrocarbons from refinery tank bottom sludge is sparse. Authors report an investigation of the removal of hydrocarbons from refinery sludge by isolated biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa RS29 strain and explore the biosurfactant for its composition and stability.
They conducted a laboratory investigation with this strain to observe its efficacy of removing hydrocarbon from refinery sludge employing whole bacterial culture and culture supernatant to various concentrations of sand–sludge mixture. Removal of hydrocarbon was recorded after 20 days. Analysis of the produced biosurfactant was carried out to get the idea about its stability and composition. To their knowledge, this is the first report showing the potentiality of a native strain from the northeast region of India for the efficient removal of hydrocarbon from refinery sludge.
Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-013-1888-2#

Treatment of conditioned oily sludge from Cameroon petroleum refinery by centrifugation

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
International Journal Of Environmental Sciences Volume 3, No 5, 2013, doi:10.6088/ijes.2013030500007
Treatment of conditioned oily sludge from Cameroon petroleum refinery by centrifugation
Ze Bilo'o Philemon 1,2, Ngassoum Martin Benoît 1
zebiloop@yahoo.fr
1 Laboratory of Active Substances and Pollution (LASP), National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences (ENSAI), University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 455 Ngaoundere (Cameroon)
2 Laboratory of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box: 39 Bambili (Cameroon).
Abstract
The large quantity of oily sludge generated by the National Petroleum Refinery of Cameroon represents a certain number of problems among which we have waste treatment and disposal. The objectives of this survey were to carry out primary tests on treatment of conditioned oily sludge by centrifugation and to identify and quantify standard Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) that can be recovered. In order to attain these objectives, centrifugation speed (a), centrifugation time (b), centrifugation temperature (c) and flocculent concentration (d) were measured. Best result of oil extraction was obtained at a centrifugation speed of 1500 rpm, a centrifugation temperature of 60°C, a centrifugation time of 30 min and flocculent concentration equal to 25 ppm.
The oily sludge was conditioned with NALCO Core Shell 71303. The percentages of oil extraction show that oil is still in the emulsion phase. This situation can be due to the fact that the optimum conditions of centrifugation have not been achieved. The other reason is the adsorption of heavy hydrocarbons on solid particles present in the oily sludge.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.ipublishing.co.in/ijesarticles/thirteen/articles/volthree/EIJES31138.pdf

Research on the Treatment of Oily Sludge

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 671 - 674), Pages 2746-2749, DOI 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.671-674.2746, March, 2013
Research on the Treatment of Oily Sludge
Ping Chen, Lian Bao Kan
Abstract
Oily sludge poses serious threats to the environment.  Authors analyze the composition of oily sludge and present three treatment approaches.  These consist of: chemical treatment, biological degradation, and resource utilization.  They discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.  In their opinion, waste utilization is the most cost effective approach.
Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://www.scientific.net/AMR.671-674.2746

Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons from bottom sludge of crude oil storage tanks using in-vessel composting followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and Fenton

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, March 2013
Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons from bottom sludge of crude oil storage tanks using in-vessel composting followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and Fenton
Ali Koolivand, Kazem Naddafi, Ramin Nabizadeh, Simin Nasseri, Ahmad Jonidi Jafari, Massoud Yunesian, Kamyar Yaghmaeian
1. Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. BOX: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran
3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiatmodares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Studies the feasibility of aerated in-vessel composting process followed by chemical oxidation with H2O2 and Fenton for removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from oily sludge of crude oil storage tanks. The ratios of the sludge to immature compost were 1:0 (as abiotic control), 1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10 (as dry basis) at a C:N:P ratio of 100:5:1 and 55 % moisture content for a period of 10 weeks. Six concentrations of H2O2 and Fenton were added to the compost mixture for a period of 24- and 48-h reaction times.
Results revealed that petroleum hydrocarbons removal in ratios of 1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10 were 66.6, 73.2, 74.8, 80.2 and 79.9 %, respectively. The results of the abiotic experiments suggest that the main mechanism of hydrocarbon removal in the composting reactors was biological. The application of combined composting and chemical oxidation demonstrated a remarkable overall removal. The study demonstrated that in-vessel composting combined with chemical oxidation is a viable choice for the remediation of the sludge.
Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10163-013-0121-1#

Oil recovery from refinery oily sludge using a rhamnolipid biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas

CATEGORY: OILY SLUDGE
Bioresource Technology, Volume 116, July 2012, Pages 24–28
Oil recovery from refinery oily sludge using a rhamnolipid biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas
Ping Yan a, b, Mang Lu c, Qin Yang d, Hai-Ling Zhang d, Zhong-Zhi Zhang a, Rong Chen e
a State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
b Dalian Petrochemical Branch Company, PetroChina, Dalian 116000, China
c School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen 333403, Jiangxi, China
d Oil & Gas Technology Research Institute, Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi’an 710018, China
e Beijing Green Oil Technology Services Co., Ltd., Beijing 100028, China
Abstract
Researchers employed a rhamnolipid biosurfactant-producing strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa F-2, to recover oil from refinery oily sludge in laboratory and pilot-scale experiments. The optimum values of carbon to nitrogen ratio, temperature, sludge–water ratio and inoculum size for oil recovery were determined to be 10, 35 °C, 1:4 and 4%, respectively.
An oil recovery of up to 91.5% was obtained with the equipping of draft tubes during the field pilot-scale studies. Results demonstrate that strain F-2 has potential for industrial applications and may be used in oil recovery from oily sludge.
Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852412006268