Application of Electro-oxidation for the Degradation of Organics in Oil Sands Process Water (OSPW)

• Author / Creator

  Abdalrhman, Abdallatif S A

• Large volumes of oil sands process water (OSPW) are generated during the extraction of bitumen from the mined oil sands ores in northern Alberta. The treatment of OSPW is currently considered a serious challenge facing the oil sands industry in the region. Among the different constituents in OSPW, naphthenic acids (NAs) are considered the most abundant and problematic organic pollutants. Enormous efforts have been implemented towards the development of strategies for OSPW treatment. However, highly effective and cost-efficient treatment approaches have not been found so far.
  The main objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of applying electro-oxidation (EO) at low current densities as a treatment option for OSPW treatment. Combining EO with aerobic biodegradation was proposed as an effective and cost-efficient treatment train for OSPW. The study investigated the performance of EO by graphite anode for NAs degradation, biodegradability enhancement, and toxicity reduction. The degradation kinetics and structure-reactivity relation for NAs during EO by graphite anode were also investigated. The performance of EO by graphite anode for the degradation of organics in real OSPW was evaluated and compared with that by dimensionally stable Ti-RuO2/IrO2 anode (DSA). The effectiveness of EO for improving the biodegradability of NAs in OSPW was also evaluated.
  The results from this research have shown that low-current EO by graphite anode can be a promising pre-treatment option for OSPW while being routed to in-pit lakes or wetlands where further biodegradation can take place. EO can lead to improved biodegradability and reduced acute toxicity of NAs. The lower voltages required, low-cost of graphite electrodes and exclusion of chemicals addition can result in a sustainable and environmental friendly process that can be run by renewable energy.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Oil Sands Process Water (OSPW)
  • Biodegradation
  • Electro-oxidation
  • Naphthenic acids

• Graduation date

  Fall 2019

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-k3nc-re09

• License

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