 Water and Nanotechnology
Research Spotlight: Mark Wiesner, http://wiesner.cee.duke.edu/
Santos, S.M. and Weisner, Mark Abstract: Produced water from gas and oil operations is purportedly the largest single source of waste generated in the United States with an annual production rate of over 3 billion tons. Results are presented from bench scale pilot tests of membrane ultrafiltration of produced waters obtained from three operating oil and gas wells. Ultrafiltration reduced concentrations of grease and oil in the three produced waters evaluated in this work to well below current and anticipated regulatory limits. Permeation flux varied greatly from one produced water to another. Because membrane cost is greatly influenced by permeate flux, generalizations regarding the economic or technical feasibility of UF treatment of produced water based on the limited number of laboratory and field tests performed to date do not appear to be warranted. More >>> Nanomaterials as possible contaminants: the fullerene example (2008) Wiesner, M. R.; Hotze, E. M.; Brant, J. A.; Espinasse, B. Abstract: An assessment of the potential risks posed by nanomaterials will require case-by-case evaluations of the processes controlling exposure and hazards such as toxicity. Factors that control fullerene transport and transformation in aqueous environments and their relationship to toxicity are discussed. Natural organic matter is observed to either increase or decrease nanoparticle stability while trends in reactive oxygen generation run counter to proposed mechanisms of possible fullerene toxicity. More >>> Ultrafiltration of water generated in oil and gas production (1997) Santos, S. M.; Wiesner, M. R Abstract: Produced water from gas and oil operations is purportedly the largest single source of waste generated in the U.S., with an annual production rate of more than 2.7 bil t (3 bil ton). Results are presented from bench-scale pilot tests of membrane ultrafiltration of produced water obtained from three operating oil and gas wells. Ultrafiltration (UF) reduced concentrations of grease and oil in the three produced waters evaluated in this work to below current and anticipated regulatory limits. Permeation flux varied from one produced water to another. Because membrane cost is influenced by permeate flux, generalizations regarding the economic or technical feasibility of UF treatment of produced water based on the limited number of laboratory and field rests performed to date do not appear to be warranted. More >>> |
