Development of anti-fouling ceramic membranes for produced water treatment

Produced water, the largest volume of waste stream generated during oil explorations has continued to raise a lot of environmental concerns over the years. According to a repo...ort by the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) in 2021, the state of Texas in the United States alone generated over 8 billion barrels of produced water [1]. Even more worrisome is the fact that in the Middle East which plays a vital role in global oil production, over 85% of the population live under severe water stress due to the limited availability of surface freshwater, relying primarily on groundwater and seawater desalination [2]. When discharged untreated, produced water can contaminate surface and groundwater, harm aquatic ecosystems, and disrupt local communities. Moreover, regulatory bodies in many countries impose strict discharge limits, requiring oil and gas companies to treat produced water before disposal. As a result, the treatment and management of produced water have become integral aspects of the industry's operations. Ceramic membranes have shown great promise in treating produced water due to their durability, chemical resistance, and precise pore size control. However, fouling remains a significant challenge in the application of ceramic membranes for produced water treatment. Hence, to harness the full potential of ceramic membranes in produced water treatment, it is essential to develop a functionalized ceramic membrane with low fouling, high flux, and excellent oil rejection properties. This project aims to develop ceramic membranes with low fouling properties for produced water treatment. Several key experimental factors such as the careful selection of membrane material, optimization of fabrication technique, and the implementation of surface modification strategies to enhance fouling resistance, enhance water permeance and improve the oil rejection shall be optimized. The project when completed shall address the critical issue of fouling in ceramic membranes, enhance their performance, and pave the way to a more efficient and environmentally friendly produced water treatment in the oil and gas industry.