Oil-Refinery Wastewater Treatment Aiming Reuse by Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) Combined with Biological Activated Carbon (BAC)

The treatment of a refinery wastewater by Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) coupled with Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) was investigated aiming to generate water for reuse. O₃/UV and H₂O₂/UV processes were employed to oxidize the organic matter and the BAC process to remove residual organic matter from the AOP effluent. AOP promoted oxidation of recalcitrant organic matter as observed by moderate drops on the treated wastewater absorbance (31–79%) and TOC values (10–18%). BAC filters showed to be effective, reaching average efficiencies of 65% in a sufficiently long period of operation (84 days), while GAC filters were saturated after 28 days. Effluent TOC values in the range of 4 to 8.5 mg/L were achieved by the combined treatment (H₂O₂/UV + BAC), allowing water reuse.