In situ, one step removal of ammonia from onshore and offshore formation water of petroleum production fields

Fish, crustaceans and other living organisms are threatened due to disposal of harmful contaminants in sea water. Ammonia is considered one of harmful contaminants due to industrial activities of oil companies, where excess ammonia in the formation water is discharged into sea water. Electrochemical treatment (EC) was used in one step for total removal of ammonia and remediation of other contaminants. Three working electrodes were examined EC cell, aluminum, iron and modified electrode (Ti/IrO2). Graphite electrode was used as counter electrode in all processes of binary system. Both ionized and unionized ammonia of onshore (5.54 mg L−1) and off shore (110 mg L−1) were totally undetected after one step using all types of electrodes. The study was extended also to check the removal efficiency of other contaminants, where the analysis indicated the alleviation of them. Total suspended solid (TSS) of both onshore 64 mg L−1 and offshore 228 mg L−1 samples was reduced to 4 mg L−1. Total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) of high values, 232,000, 8500 and 2442 mg L−1 were also reduced to lower levels 18,400, 4000 and 1600 mg L−1, respectively. The formed sludge after EC treatment was also investigated using XRD.