The Potentials of Activated Carbons from Elaeis Guineensis Biomasses for Produced Water Treatment: Harnessing Renewable Resources for Future Oil and Gas Production Enhancement in Africa

Abstract

Wastes are produced during petroleum production as well as agricultural operations. The treatment of oilfield produced water (PW) for reuse using activated carbons (ACs) derived from Elaeis Guineensis biomasses was investigated. The biomasses (palm kernel shells, PKS and empty palm bunch, EPB) were prepared and converted to biochars by pyrolysis, and then activated with 0.2M HCl at a temperature of 450°C. The ACs were characterised for pH, bulk density, iodine numbers, ash and moisture contents, particle size, specific surface area, pore volume and size. The characteristics of the adsorbents indicate that iodine numbers ranged from 700.14-1181.48mg/g for EPB; 525.10-918.93mg/g for PKS; ash content ranged from 6.20-6.80% for EPB and 2.00-2.80% PKS. The AC particle sizes were optimized, and 300µm-size for both adsorbents showed good prospects based on iodine number. For this particle size, the mean pore volume and size, and specific surface area acquired using the Quantachrome NovaWin Instruments, version 11.03, were determined as 0.1689 cc/g, 3.102nm, and 1065 m2/g, for EPB, and 0.1353cc/g, 1.956nm and 300 m2/g, for PKS. The SEM results confirmed the surface morphology of the adsorbents, while XRF results showed that the adsorbents have high percentages of compounds of silicon, potassium, carbon, and calcium, but the PKS has no magnesium and barium. The EPB has no barium but 9.6% moles magnesium. Both have very low percentages of the heavy metals, namely, iron, chromium, aluminium, cobalt, zinc, nickel and copper. This implies that the ACs can effectively treat produced water to remove these heavy metal ions.