(193b) A Silica-Based Approach to Remove Valuable Components from Produced Water | AIChE

(193b) A Silica-Based Approach to Remove Valuable Components from Produced Water

Authors 

Miranda, M., Oklahoma State University
Ghosh, A., Oklahoma State University
Aichele, C., Oklahoma State University
Shaw, M., Oklahoma State University
Krzmarzick, M., Oklahoma State University
Lampert, D., Illinois Institute of Technology
Produced water is a waste stream that is generated during crude oil production. In some cases, produced water contains valuable components such as lithium and lanthanum. Produced water also contains other contaminants such as organics and salt that make recovery of the valuable components challenging. Our work focuses on recovering these valuable components from produced water using a silica-based approach. Our approach leverages the resilient properties of silica such as its high thermal stability and material strength. We evaluated several types of silica, including spherical, fumed, and ligand-modified, to adsorb lithium and lanthanum ions. We also evaluated the adsorption ability of silica in real produced water.