Evaluation of activated red mud as a heterogeneous catalyst in advanced oxidation processes with solar radiation for the degradation of petroleum sour waters

Abstract

The research studied the catalytic potential of activated red mud in the degradation of effluents (sour waters) from the improvement process of heavy and extra-heavy crudes treated by advanced oxidation processes using solar radiation. Its applied a factorial experiment design 2² with two points to the center. Analytical techniques were applied to the effluent such as COD, TPH, Conductivity, pH, concentration of sulphides, concentration of sulfates, chlorides, ICP-MS, IC. For the identification of organic compounds, a solid phase microextraction was applied and then a GC-MS. The solids were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, and carbon / sulfur LECO. The POA allowed obtaining results in the reduction of COD by 88.95% and TPH by 100%, also reducing the sulfur concentration by 99.99%. It was concluded that the reaction is carried out for heterogeneous catalysis and that the carbon absorption in the catalyst is less than 0.2%