Hydraulic fracturing (HF) generates significant amounts of produced water with a variety of contaminants that are difficult to treat.  Several algae species are capable of removing many of these contaminants from HF wastewater through chelation, oxidation, and/or uptake.  By using algae as a form of pretreatment for HF wastewater, the cost of treatment can be reduced and produced water can be reused.  In this study, we present the performance of novel algae species (among which representatives from Chlorophyta, Haptophytes, Charophyta, and Heterokontophyta) in remediating twenty different contaminants including heavy metals, biocides, and organic compounds such as BTEX.  Each algae species was tested in microcosms set up with individual and mixed contaminants to determine their uptake and removal effectiveness.  The experiments with the best performing algae were repeated at the bench scale using a suspended culture to simulate holding ponds and produce expected field test removal efficiencies.

Feasibility of utilizing algal biomass for the pretreatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewater

248th National Meeting (2014)

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