Application of Organically Modified Clay in Removing BTEX from Produced Water

Abstract

BTEX is one of the hazardous organic contaminants available in produced water. Since it has high toxicity, and causes numerous environmental problems, it should be removed up to a limit complying with environmental standards. The objective of this study is to analyze the feasibility of BTEX removal, as the oil pollution index, from produced water by using organoclay as the adsorbent of oil contaminants compared to typical clay. To produce organoclay, CTAB surfactant was used and tested with different cation capacities. The obtained results reveal that organoclay, due to its microstructures, high effectiveness, simplicity, and low cost, is a viable solution to expensive and complicated systems for BTEX removal. Furthermore, organoclay is capable of adsorbing 95.6% BTEX from produced water in the order of ethylbenzene, xylene, toluene, and benzene, respectively.