A Novel Plasma Based Technology for Efficient Produced Water Treatment, Recycle, and Reuse

Abstract Advanced oxidative processes (AOPs) are increasingly recognized for their efficacy in degrading persistent organic pollutants, pathogens, and other contaminants in water treatment. Among AOP techniques, plasma chemistry stands out due to its synergistic integration of physical (e.g., UV photons, shockwaves, electric fields) and chemical (e.g., reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, ozone, hydroxyl radicals) effects, enabling efficient degradation of complex pollutants. This study focuses on applying plasma-based AOPs for the treatment of produced water (PW) from oil and gas operations, which contains contaminants including hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and dissolved solids that challenge conventional methods. We aim to design, optimize, and evaluate a scalable and energy-efficient plasma-driven AOP system for PW remediation, emphasizing regulatory compliance for safe discharge or reuse. By leveraging plasma's multi-reactive mechanisms, this approach seeks to enhance contaminant removal efficiency while minimizing secondary waste generation, offering a sustainable solution for PW recycling in upstream applications such as hydraulic fracturing, enhanced oil recovery, or irrigation. In this work the underwater diaphragm discharge plasma water treatment device was designed, and the ideal electric discharge parameters were found. The research revealed that plasma treatment produces iron oxide nanoparticles ranging from 100±20 to 657±120 in size. The investigations on reservoir water solutions showed that iron oxide nanoparticles absorb dissolved salts on their surfaces and plasma activation decreases interfacial tension (on the hexane border). By changing the flow-type cell architecture, iron oxide nanostructure synthesis may boost energy efficiency to 18.75 g/kWh. The treatment by this discharge allow to remove oil contaminations and reduce the salinity.