The removal of highly stable dispersed oil produced during oil-recovery processes is challenging, especially in offshore operations. The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to remove the dispersed oil from produced water is a promising way to overcome the difficulties faced by current treatment technologies. The MNPs can be also regenerated and reused, minimizing the generation of hazardous waste. The authors investigated not only the optimal operating conditions, such as MNP concentration and salinity, but also the mechanisms of MNP/oil attachment and magnetic separation.
Introduction
The main advantage of the use of MNPs to remove dispersed oil droplets from produced water is their quick response to move in a desired direction with application of an external magnetic field.
