Theoretical validation model for the treatment of petroleum wastewater using electron beam

Abstract

The process of purification of petroleum wastewater by electron beam irradiation using a theoretical model that describes the reactive species generated during irradiation and their reactions with the contaminating substances was analyzed. For the irradiation process, a linear electron accelerator with absorbed doses of 18 and 23 kGy was used on 10 L samples of oil wastewater. The parameters analyzed were: COD, BOD, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, barium ion, sulfates, and calcium ion. The main results show that the purification through the use of electron beam allows the elimination of contaminants such as: COD, BOD, electrical conductivity, barium ion, and calcium ion in a percentages ranging between 16 and 80%. The higher the absorbed dose, the greater the purification percentages of these contaminants. Sulfates, as well as suspended solids in the sample, have contradic - tory behaviors. After irradiation at the higher absorbed dose (23 kGy), the initially measured values increase. This could be due to a large evaporation of water from the residual water sample.