Halophyte Reed Bed Plant for Produced Water Salt Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating and disposing of wastewater containing salts and oil, particularly 'produced water' from oil extraction, are inefficient and costly, failing to meet environmental regulations and wasting potentially reusable water resources, especially in arid regions.
Innovation Solution
A plant-based system comprising a settling area for oil separation, a reed bed area for contaminant uptake and degradation, a modular basin area for nutrient utilization and by-product generation, and a saline area for salt evaporation and concentration, utilizing tolerant plant species and controlled water flow to recover contaminants and generate valuable by-products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods for treating produced water are used (injection into ground material or deeper water-bearing strata), then the waste water can be disposed of, but the costs increase significantly due to high energy requirements and environmental regulations are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful salt-containing produced water into a beneficial resource by utilizing salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) that can grow in and purify the water. The harmful salt concentration becomes a selective advantage for certain plant species, enabling natural purification without high energy consumption. The system transforms waste into useful by-products through biological processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment system is designed to be self-sustaining through natural biological processes. Salt-tolerant plants naturally uptake and concentrate salts from the water, and the system generates its own by-products (fertilizers, biofuel) without requiring external energy input or chemical additives. The microbial communities in the ground filter system perform degradation functions autonomously.
2Loss of substance
If conventional disposal methods are used, then waste water can be removed from the system, but potentially reusable water resources are lost, especially in arid regions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the salt-containing produced water through injection methods, the patent recovers and concentrates the salts through evaporation in saline areas. The recovered salts can be used as fertilizers or industrial by-products. The water is not lost but transformed through evaporation, allowing the system to close the water cycle and reduce losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The treated water and by-products serve multiple functions: the purified water can be reused for irrigation or industrial purposes, the concentrated salts become fertilizers, and the system generates biofuel. This multi-functionality maximizes the value extracted from the produced water, reducing the need to lose water resources.
3Ease of manufacture
If plant-based water clarification plants are used for decentralized treatment, then nature-friendly integration is achieved, but investment costs remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment system is divided into modular functional units: settling areas, reed bed areas, modular basin areas with utility basins, and saline areas. Each module can be independently designed, constructed, and scaled according to the specific needs and budget of decentralized treatment sites. This segmentation reduces overall investment complexity compared to monolithic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes naturally occurring salt-tolerant plant species and ground filter materials that can be locally sourced and are relatively inexpensive. The emphasis is on using biological processes rather than expensive mechanical or chemical treatment systems. The ground filter layers and plant communities are self-renewing and maintain their function over time without requiring costly replacement components.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If produced water is injected into the ground material, then disposal is achieved, but environmental regulations are increasingly difficult to satisfy and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful salt-containing produced water into a beneficial resource by utilizing salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) that can grow in and purify the water. The harmful salt concentration becomes a selective advantage for certain plant species, enabling natural purification without high energy consumption. The system transforms waste into useful by-products through biological processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The salt-tolerant plants act as intermediary organisms between the produced water and the environment. Instead of directly injecting the harmful water into the ground, the plants serve as a biological filter that uptake and concentrate salts, transforming the water into a safer state before final disposal or reuse. This intermediary biological process satisfies environmental regulations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces toxic contaminants by up to 96% and generates valuable by-products, achieving significant cost savings and environmentally friendly water reuse, with the potential for biofuel production and enhanced regional aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
a settling area for receiving the waste water and for separating oil proportions from the waste water
Implementation Method 2
separating oil proportions from the waste water
Implementation Method 3
at least one subsequent reed bed area as a so-called 'reed bed', cane or plant bed respectively having plants for the uptake and degradation of contaminants in the waste water
Implementation Method 4
plants for the uptake and degradation of contaminants in the waste water
Implementation Method 5
at least one saline area for the reception of the residual water from the modular basin area and for the evaporation of water and the concentration of salt
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a plant and a method for the treatment and disposal of waste water containing salts and oil, in particular produced water, comprising at least one settling area for receiving the waste water and for separating oil proportions from the waste water, at least one subsequent reed bed area having plants for the uptake and degradation of contaminants in the waste water, at least one modular basin area having a plurality of utility basins, whereby a utility basin, controlled by way of distribution means, can be supplied with treated waste water from the reed bed area and/or from at least one other utility basin, and at least one saline area for the reception of the residual water from the modular basin area and for the evaporation of water and the concentration of salt.