Integration of coagulation and ozonation with flat‐sheet ceramic membrane filtration for shale gas hydraulic fracturing wastewater treatment: A laboratory study

Abstract

The performance of the integrated process of coagulation and ozonation with ceramic membrane filtration was evaluated for the treatment of shale gas hydraulic fracturing flowback wastewater (HFFW). The removal efficiencies of carbon oxygen demand (CODCr), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), petroleum oils, and turbidity in effluent by the combined process were 87.1%, 72.2%, 94.3%, and 99.6%, respectively. Compared with sole membrane filtration, the transmembrane pressure (TMP) of ceramic membrane filtration was reduced by >99% with the integrated process. The coagulation and ozonation can effectively remove the organics with high molecular weights in the cake layer of ceramic membrane. To the best of our knowledge, this work proposed the combined process of coagulation, ozonation, and flat‐sheet ceramic membrane filtration for the treatment of HFFW for the first time. The water quality of the effluent met the discharge standard (Comprehensive Wastewater Discharge Standard GB8978‐1996). The findings can provide an important technical foundation for the innovation of integrated equipment for HFFW treatment. Practitioner points An integrated process combining coagulation and ozonation with flat‐sheet ceramic membrane ultrafiltration for the treatment of shale gas wastewater. The water quality of this integrated process met the discharge standard. Coagulation and ozonation effectively alleviated the membrane fouling related to organics with high molecular weights. A new avenue for on‐site treatment of shale gas wastewater and an alternative of the current centralized wastewater management.