Reduction of heavy metals in Cuban light crude oil with the use of zeolite

Abstract

In this work we investigated the ability of natural zeolite to reduce the content of heavy metals in Cuban light crude oil in order to apply it to water emulsified with crude oil. A granulometric analysis of the zeolite was performed, the highest percentage of the sample was retained in sieves with particle sizes of 3,35 and 1 mm; with which all experiments were performed. According to its chemical characterization, using ICP-AES, a Si/Al molar ratio of 5,43 typical of zeolites with a high silica content, high thermal stability, hydrophobic and stable against acidic solutions was obtained, which confer it practical application. The minor elements detected were Ba, Zn, V and Mo. Adsorption experiments applying natural zeolite with crude oil showed the ability of the material to adsorb heavy metals such as Pb and Hg that were not in their natural structure, in the case of Cr, the lower granulometry favored an adequate transfer surface for the adsorption of this compound, Ca2+ was another ion retained in the zeolite, which is favorable in eliminating the hardness of water contaminated with crude.