Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
University of Northern British Columbia
$24,000.00
Development of Innovative Energy Recovery and Waste Remediation Approaches for Effective Petroleum Sludge Treatment
FY 2016-17
Summary
A large volume of oily sludge can be generated from the petroleum industry during its crude oil exploration, production, transportation, storage, and refining processes. Due to its hazardous nature and the increasing quantity being generated around the world, the effective treatment of petroleum sludge has attracted widespread attention. Most of the conventional technologies for sludge disposal are inadequate to meet stringent environmental regulations due to their low efficiency, long treatment time, and secondary pollution in removing contaminants. As a result, there is a pressing need from industry and governments for the development of enhanced, innovative, and cost-effective approaches for petroleum sludge treatment. This research is designed to help develop a sustainable waste management strategy for the petroleum industry through energy recovery and waste minimization. It consists of a number of research tasks: (a) to advance the research and development of optimal energy recovery from oil refinery sludge using different approaches and their combinations, including ultrasonic irradiation, freeze/thaw treatment, and pyrolysis; (b) to discover new microbial strains with high petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) degradation ability, and to produce promising bio-surfactants for the enhanced bioremediation of petroleum sludge, and (c) to develop innovative approaches for the immobilization of heavy metals contained in petroleum sludge and drill cuttings using co-pyrolysis with wood waste biomass. The research allows for a systematic consideration of factors and complexities that affect petroleum sludge treatment. A number of environmentally friendly technologies will be developed for improving the current costly and inefficient petroleum waste management practices in Canada, and will greatly contribute to improved health in the communities that are impacted by petroleum sludge disposal. This research will also help to attract and train a number of talented students, who will be capable of addressing Canada's future environmental challenges.
Program
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
283317-2013
Name nom
Li, Jianbing
Department département
Environmental Engineering
Organization id
3
Institution établissement
University of Northern British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2016
Competition year année de concours
2013
Award amount
24000
Program id
RGPIN
Program name en
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Program name fr
Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1509
Committee name en
Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie civil, industriel et des systèmes
Area of application code
406
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Pollutants and toxic agents (waste, use 902)
Area of application fr
Polluants et agents toxiques (déchets, utiliser 902)
Research subject code
1500
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Environmental engineering
Research subject fr
Génie de l'environnement
Partie
4
Nb partie
5
Application title
Development of Innovative Energy Recovery and Waste Remediation Approaches for Effective Petroleum Sludge Treatment
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A large volume of oily sludge can be generated from the petroleum industry during its crude oil exploration, production, transportation, storage, and refining processes. Due to its hazardous nature and the increasing quantity being generated around the world, the effective treatment of petroleum sludge has attracted widespread attention. Most of the conventional technologies for sludge disposal are inadequate to meet stringent environmental regulations due to their low efficiency, long treatment time, and secondary pollution in removing contaminants. As a result, there is a pressing need from industry and governments for the development of enhanced, innovative, and cost-effective approaches for petroleum sludge treatment. This research is designed to help develop a sustainable waste management strategy for the petroleum industry through energy recovery and waste minimization. It consists of a number of research tasks: (a) to advance the research and development of optimal energy recovery from oil refinery sludge using different approaches and their combinations, including ultrasonic irradiation, freeze/thaw treatment, and pyrolysis; (b) to discover new microbial strains with high petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) degradation ability, and to produce promising bio-surfactants for the enhanced bioremediation of petroleum sludge, and (c) to develop innovative approaches for the immobilization of heavy metals contained in petroleum sludge and drill cuttings using co-pyrolysis with wood waste biomass. The research allows for a systematic consideration of factors and complexities that affect petroleum sludge treatment. A number of environmentally friendly technologies will be developed for improving the current costly and inefficient petroleum waste management practices in Canada, and will greatly contribute to improved health in the communities that are impacted by petroleum sludge disposal. This research will also help to attract and train a number of talented students, who will be capable of addressing Canada's future environmental challenges.
