(313d) Use of Microbial Fuel Cells for Produced Water Treatment

Oil and gas production operations consume about 10 times more water than the amount of fossil fuel produced. The need to clean up the produced water to enable its recycle is increasingly becoming important for the industry's existence. Currently, the produced water is reinjected into the subsurface, however, this practice is not sustainable. This paper will describe use of microbial fuel cells for reducing the energy load in treating produced water. Microbial fuel cells convert organic carbon and wastes into energy using microbial catalysts instead of platinum (Pt). Production of power from organic contaminants present in produced water using MFCs and its coupling to unit operations used in produced water treatment will be discussed. Successful development of this technology can result in reduction in energy intensity in the produced water industry with potential for recycling water to increase production of oil and gas from abandoned US wells.