Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
Research Article
Adsorptive Removal of Heavy Metals from Oil Well Produced Water Using Citrus sinensis Peel
Author(s): Stephen G Udeagbara*, Isehunwa S.O, Okereke N. U, Nwanwe O, Oguama I and Kerunwa A
Produced Water (PW) from hydrocarbon reservoirs contains toxic metals very often and other impurities that are
harmful to the ecosystem This research was aimed to checkmate the impact of citrus sinensis (orange peel mixed with
the fiber) as a bio-adsorbent for the treatment of PW from Niger Delta oil field.
An adsorption column of 2.0 m (0.4 m internal diameter) with four treatment compartments was fabricated using
standard procedures. Citrus sinensis peel was washed thoroughly with distilled water, sun-dried (4 days during
harmattan period) and oven-dried at 105 ± 5°C for 3 hours. It was ground into powder, sieved (150 and 300 microns)
and then washed with 0.4 mol/L HNO3, filtered and rinsed with distilled water to remove any impurity that might
interfere with the result. Sample of PW was obtained from field R in the N.. View more»