Nanotechnology-based sorption and membrane technologies for the treatment of petroleum-based pollutants in natural ecosystems and wastewater streams

Sherif A Younis; Hubdar Ali Maitlo; Jechan Lee; Ki-Hyun Kim

doi:10.1016/j.cis.2019.102071

Nanotechnology-based sorption and membrane technologies for the treatment of petroleum-based pollutants in natural ecosystems and wastewater streams

Adv Colloid Interface Sci. 2020 Jan:275:102071. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2019.102071. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Authors

Sherif A Younis¹, Hubdar Ali Maitlo², Jechan Lee³, Ki-Hyun Kim⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; Analysis and Evaluation Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, 11727 Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
² Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, M. A. Jinnah Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
³ Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kkim61@hanyang.ac.kr.

PMID: 31806151
DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2019.102071

Abstract

Petroleum processing wastewater (PPW) is a complex mixture of free, soluble, and emulsive hydrocarbons that often contain heavy metals and/or solid particles. As these hazardous constituents can accumulate in human beings and the environment, exposure to the PPW can have harmful effects in various respects. The use of environmental nanotechnologies (E-Nano) is considered an attractive option to resolve the problems associated with PPW. Among different treatment technologies, E-Nano-based sorption (adsorption/absorption) and membrane filtration approaches have been proven to have outstanding efficacy in remediation of PPW pollutants. It is, however, crucial to determine the appropriate technological option (e.g., low-cost operational conditions) for the practical application of such technologies. In this review, the potential of E-Nano-based sorption and membrane technologies in the treatment of various PPW pollutants is discussed based on their performances in comparison to traditional technologies. Their suitability is evaluated further in relation to their merits/disadvantages and economic feasibility with the goal of constructing a perspective map to efficiently implement the E-Nano technologies.

Keywords: Hybrid treatment scheme; Nanosorbents; Nanotechnologies; Petroleum wastewater pollutants; Separation-based nano-membranes; Water economy and recycle scheme.

Publication types

Review