Removal of ions from produced water using Powder River Basin coal

Abstract In addition to being used as an energy source, coal also has significant potential for other, more sustainable uses including water treatment. this study, we present a simple approach treat that was produced during oil production and contained total dissolved solids (TDS) content of over 150 g/L using Powder River Basin (PRB) coal. PRB packing material in flow-through column effectively removed 60%–80% the cations anions simultaneously. Additionally, 71%–92% organic carbon all suspended solids. The removal mechanisms both were investigated. Cations by ion exchange with protons from oxygen-containing functional groups such carboxylic phenolic hydroxyl groups. Anions, mainly Cl −1 , appeared be through either formation resonance structures result delocalization electrons within molecules or ion–π interactions. We propose is “pseudo-amphoteric” can remove simultaneously exchanging ions ionized non-ionized acids are ubiquitous structure effect. Graphical abstract