Simultaneous Removal of Oil and Bacteria in a Natural Fiber Filter
Journal
Environmental Science and Technology Letters
Journal Volume
9
Journal Issue
1
Start Page
77
End Page
83
ISSN
23288930
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Abstract
Microbes and oil occur together in produced waters (PW) and must be removed. Their removal prior to discharge, reinjection, or reuse is necessitated by downstream challenges and regulations. In particular, microbial removal is required prior to additional treatment, distribution, or reuse to avoid biofouling, biocorrosion, or well clogging/souring. We demonstrate simultaneous removal of oil (>99.95%) and Escherichia coli (6 log10) in a Ceiba pentandra (kapok) fiber filter with adsorbed Moringa oleifera (MO) proteins for sustainable PW treatment under moderate salinity conditions (ionic strength of 90.1 mM). This filter is compared to the industry standard, walnut shell media filters, which remove smaller amounts of oil (99.3%) and a negligible amount of E. coli (0.29 log10). MO antimicrobial cationic proteins were adsorbed onto the naturally occurring oleophilic kapok fibers, providing E. coli removal while oil sorption occurs on the hydrophobic fibers. Additionally, synergistic removal of E. coli by bare kapok fibers in the presence of oil was observed and the effect of MO proteins on enhancing this removal was demonstrated. This work provides a unique framework for the evaluation of sustainable PW treatment using plant-based fiber filters. © 2021 American Chemical Society.
SDGs
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Type
journal article