Advanced Treatment Strategies for Pollutants in Oilfield Wastewater: A Comprehensive Evaluation

Oilfield wastewater, a complex byproduct of crude oil extraction, contains refractory organic pollutants that pose significant environmental challenges due to their persistence and toxicity. Traditional treatment methods often fall short of achieving complete degradation, necessitating advanced technologies. This review critically evaluates four promising strategies—Fenton oxidation, membrane separation technologies, persulfate oxidation, photocatalytic oxidation, and adsorption—focusing on their fundamental principles, operational advantages, and inherent limitations. These innovations will be critical for overcoming current barriers—such as acidic pH constraints in Fenton processes or high persulfate costs—while aligning with stringent environmental regulations and sustainability imperatives. By focusing on catalyst design, future technologies can achieve higher degradation rates, reduced chemical inputs, and scalable solutions for oilfield wastewater management.