Release characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) leaching from oil-based drilling cuttings

Bingxin Xie; Jihong Qin; Hui Sun; Shu Wang; Xin Li

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132711

Release characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) leaching from oil-based drilling cuttings

Chemosphere. 2022 Mar;291(Pt 1):132711. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132711. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Authors

Bingxin Xie¹, Jihong Qin², Hui Sun³, Shu Wang⁴, Xin Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Sichuan Research Center for Soil Environment Protection Engineering and Technology, Chengdu, 610065, China. Electronic address: 2018223055126@stu.scu.edu.cn.
² Department of Environmental Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China. Electronic address: qinjihong@cdu.edu.cn.
³ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Sichuan Research Center for Soil Environment Protection Engineering and Technology, Chengdu, 610065, China. Electronic address: sunhui@scu.edu.cn.
⁴ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Sichuan Research Center for Soil Environment Protection Engineering and Technology, Chengdu, 610065, China. Electronic address: 2018223050072@stu.scu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Sichuan Research Center for Soil Environment Protection Engineering and Technology, Chengdu, 610065, China. Electronic address: 2018223059177@stu.scu.edu.cn.

PMID: 34715097
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132711

Abstract

Drilling cuttings, the primary byproduct from the exploration and mining of shale gas, are potentially hazardous wastes that are associated with the serious depletion of land resources and environmental safety problems. In this work, the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oil-based residues of shale gas drilling cuttings was studied. Furthermore, a column leaching test was carried out to investigate the leaching behaviour of PAHs. The results showed that (1) the concentrations of 4-ring PAHs were highest among the PAH concentrations detected from the oil-based residues, and the concentration of PAHs decreased with increasing particle size of the residues. (2) The PAH concentration in leachates from all the tested residues differed during the leaching process, and the cumulative amount of each leached PAH accounted for 1.50-3.20% of the total PAHs. (3) The first-order diffusion model (FRDM) was the most applicable model for describing the leaching characteristics of the PAHs, and the leaching rate was initially controlled by surface wash-off and then by diffusion.

Keywords: Drilling cuttings; Leaching; Model; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring
Natural Gas
Particle Size
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis

Substances

Natural Gas
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons