Ultrasonication-flotation-advanced oxidation tertiary treatment of oil-based drilling cuttings

• Published in: Heliyon 2023-11, Vol.9 (11), p.e22004-e22004, Article e22004
• Main Authors: Xu, Qian, Ma, Liang, Zhang, Linjing, Zhang, Yichen, Song, Yingfa, Fang, Shenwen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced oxidation; Flotation; Oil-based drilling cuttings; Persulphate; Ultrasonication
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22004

The treatment of oil-based drilling cuttings (OBDCs) with high oil content is difficult. In this study, a tertiary treatment of ultrasonication–flotation–advanced oxidation for treating OBDCs with a high oil content of 20.10 wt% was proposed for the first time. All stages of the treatment processes were optimised. The recommended parameters for ultrasonication at room temperature were a mass ratio of OBDCs to the degreaser of 1:8, an ultrasonication power of 600 W and treatment time of 30 min. After the ultrasonication treatment, the oil content of the OBDCs decreased from 20.10 wt% to 5.00 wt%. Flotation was performed at room temperature with a mass ratio of OBDCs to the degreaser of 1:10, a stirring speed of 400 rpm, an aeration head aperture of 3 μm and airflow rate of 400 mL/min under N2 injection for 60 min. After the flotation treatment, the oil content of the OBDCs decreased from 5.00 wt% to 2.01 wt%. Advanced oxidation was performed at room temperature with a mass ratio of OBDCs to water of 1:10, 3.57 wt% sodium persulphate in water, 4.17 wt% ferrous sulphate heptahydrate in water and ultrasonication power of 1000 W for 100 min. Following the advanced oxidation treatment, the oil content of the OBDCs decreased from 2.01 wt% to 0.58 wt%. The results of this study provide a new method and idea for treating OBDCs with high oil content.