View in EDS

Investigating the Efficacy of Zeolite Nanomaterials in Desalting Field-Treated Produced Water.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Investigating the Efficacy of Zeolite Nanomaterials in Desalting Field-Treated Produced Water.
Authors: Okoro, Emmanuel E.1 (AUTHOR) emeka.okoro@uniport.edu.ng, Sanni, Samuel E.2,3 (AUTHOR), Ogali, Oscar Ikechukwu Okoronkwo1 (AUTHOR), John, Ikechukwu Theophilus4 (AUTHOR), Ukaeru, Frank Chinedu5 (AUTHOR)
Source: Water, Air & Soil Pollution. Apr2026, Vol. 237 Issue 7, p1-25. 25p.
Subject Terms: *Zeolites, *Chemisorption, *Saline water conversion, *Petroleum industry, *Nanostructured materials, *Oil field brines, *Water purification, *Adsorption (Chemistry)
Abstract: This study provides a thorough assessment of zeolite nanoparticles as efficient adsorbents for the desalination of field-treated generated water from hydrocarbon reservoirs. Based on SEM-EDS and FTIR tests, the nanomaterials had a mostly spherical shape (50 - 90 nm), an Al/Si ratio of about 1:3, and framework vibrations that showed an active aluminosilicate lattice. The FTIR spectra showed that the Si–O–T (T = Si or Al) and O–H vibrations changed after ions were adsorbed. This was direct spectroscopic proof of chemisorptive cation exchange. Batch adsorption tests with doses of 2 - 8 g/L and contact periods of up to 120 minutes showed that the best salt removal was 90–95% at 6 g/L and 2 hours, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 100 - 120 mg/g. The kinetic analysis showed that adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.99), which meant that chemisorption was the slowest step. The equilibrium data fit the Sips isotherm, which meant that there were different surface sites with high binding affinity. The nano-zeolite adsorbents showed great cyclic stability, keeping their removal efficiency at over 88% after five adsorption-desorption cycles and 78.5% after ten cycles when regenerated with a simple 10% (w/v) NaCl brine wash. The regeneration process works at 80°C and normal pressure, which uses a lot less energy than thermal or membrane desalination methods like MED or RO. The results show that nano-zeolite adsorption is a technically possible, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly way to lower the salinity of generated water. The findings enhance the existing knowledge of nanostructured aluminosilicates in resource-water management and establish a basis for pilot-scale field application and lifecycle optimization in oil and gas operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
Description
Abstract:This study provides a thorough assessment of zeolite nanoparticles as efficient adsorbents for the desalination of field-treated generated water from hydrocarbon reservoirs. Based on SEM-EDS and FTIR tests, the nanomaterials had a mostly spherical shape (50 - 90 nm), an Al/Si ratio of about 1:3, and framework vibrations that showed an active aluminosilicate lattice. The FTIR spectra showed that the Si–O–T (T = Si or Al) and O–H vibrations changed after ions were adsorbed. This was direct spectroscopic proof of chemisorptive cation exchange. Batch adsorption tests with doses of 2 - 8 g/L and contact periods of up to 120 minutes showed that the best salt removal was 90–95% at 6 g/L and 2 hours, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 100 - 120 mg/g. The kinetic analysis showed that adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.99), which meant that chemisorption was the slowest step. The equilibrium data fit the Sips isotherm, which meant that there were different surface sites with high binding affinity. The nano-zeolite adsorbents showed great cyclic stability, keeping their removal efficiency at over 88% after five adsorption-desorption cycles and 78.5% after ten cycles when regenerated with a simple 10% (w/v) NaCl brine wash. The regeneration process works at 80°C and normal pressure, which uses a lot less energy than thermal or membrane desalination methods like MED or RO. The results show that nano-zeolite adsorption is a technically possible, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly way to lower the salinity of generated water. The findings enhance the existing knowledge of nanostructured aluminosilicates in resource-water management and establish a basis for pilot-scale field application and lifecycle optimization in oil and gas operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00496979
DOI:10.1007/s11270-026-09095-y