A method is provided for the treatment of waste streams resulting from the processing of hydrocarbons that contain naphthenic acids, for example desalter brine resulting from the extraction or production of hydrocarbons from an oil sands reservoir. Naphthenic acids can be removed from these streams by removing oil-wet solids from the waste stream prior to conventional waste water processing, and the oil-wet solids can further be independently remediated to reduce naphthenic acid concentration for disposal.

Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %). In certain embodiments, additional salt is added to the concentrated brine stream to produce an ultra-high-density brine stream (e.g., a brine stream having a density of at least about 11.7 pounds per gallon). Some aspects relate to a system that is configured to promote energy efficiency by recovering heat from the recirculated concentrated brine stream upon discharge from the fluidic circuit.

A system includes a first separator configured to receive waste water, retain a first portion of the waste water, and separate the first portion of the waste water into a first vapor and a first solid material; and a second separator in fluid communication with the first separator, the second separator being configured to receive a second portion of the waste water from the first separator and to separate the second portion of the waste water into a second vapor and a second solid material, the second separator including a first condenser, a heating element, and a first electrocoagulation unit. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Metals, such as mercury, may be removed from glycol fluids by applying a sulfur compound having the general formula HS—X, wherein X is a heteroatom-substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and/or alkylaryl group either alone or in combination with or as a blend with at least one antifoam additive, at least one demulsifier and/or a buffering agent, to chelate the at least one metal and form a chelate complex of the sulfur compound with the at least one metal and then separating the chelate complex from the fluid.

A membrane sorbent is described, which comprises 1-6 wt % silicon carbide nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The polymer matrix may comprise polysulfone and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The membrane sorbent is used for separating oil from a contaminated water mixture. The silicon carbide nanoparticles of the membrane sorbent may be made from rice husk ash.

The present invention relates to a carbon-based substance for removing saturated and non-saturated fats, petroleum and petroleum products from a water surface and/or water emulsion. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for producing this carbon-based substance. More specifically, the present invention relates to use of this carbon-based substance for removing saturated and non-saturated fats, petroleum and petroleum products from a water surface of open waters, including seas and oceans.

Metals, such as mercury, may be removed from aqueous, hydrocarbon, or mixed oilfield or refinery fluids by: applying a sulfur compound having the general formula HS-X, wherein X is a heteroatom substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and/or alkylaryl group either alone or in combination with or as a blend with at least one demulsifier, a buffering agent, a pour point depressant, and/or a water clarifier to chelate the at least one metal and form a chelate complex of the sulfur compound with the at least one metal and then separating the chelate complex from the fluid.

Methods of treating a fluid mixture include performing a first treatment on the mixture with electrochemically produced ions to separate an aqueous phase and a hydrophobic phase and performing a second electrochemical treatment on the separated aqueous phase to thereby remove aqueous contaminants from the aqueous phase wherein substantially laminar flow of fluid occurs between electrodes in the second electrochemical treatment.

A produced water treatment system includes a skim oil unit, a particulate removal unit, a liquid/liquid separation unit, and a flash concentration unit including a burner for providing hot flue gas into a bath vessel. One or more tubes extending into the bath vessel may be fed hot flue gas by the burner and provide a path for the hot flue gas to flow into the bath vessel. The one or more tubes may include a distribution tube comprising a plurality of ports for hot flue gas to exit the flow path into the bath vessel. At least a portion of a flow path for hot flue gas generated by the burner may extend above a waterline of a bath vessel. Portions flanking the portion of the flow path extending above the waterline may be positioned below the waterline to be thereby submerged during operation. The skim oil unit may include a heated dissolved air floatation system. The heat may be provided by the flash concentration unit. The heat may flash VOCs and dissolved organics from the produced water in a floatation tank of the skim oil. The VOCs and dissolved organics may be provided to the burner for use a fuel and/or incineration.

The invention is related to a super-hydrophilic/underwater super-oleophobic attapulgite separation membrane, and a preparation method and use thereof. Monodispersed hydrophilic nanoparticulates are loaded on a surface of nanoparticles, to obtain a super-hydrophilic nanocomposite material with a micro-nanostructure. The nanocomposite material is dispersed in a mixed aqueous solution of polyacrylamide and methyl cellulose, to obtain a membrane-forming slurry after vigorous stirring. A disc-shaped porous support is infiltrated with water and placed on a horizontal surface, and then a certain volume of the membrane-forming slurry is slowly and uniformly drip-coated on a surface of the support, dried and sintered to obtain a super-hydrophilic/underwater super-oleophobic microfiltration membrane layer.