title: Recent improvements in oily wastewater treatment: Progress, challenges, and future opportunities.
abstract: Oily wastewater poses significant threats to the soil, water, air and human beings because of the hazardous nature of its oil contents. The objective of this review paper is to highlight the current and recently developed methods for oily wastewater treatment through which contaminants such as oil, fats, grease, and inorganics can be removed for safe applications. These include electrochemical treatment, membrane filtration, biological treatment, hybrid technologies, use of biosurfactants, treatment via vacuum ultraviolet radiation, and destabilization of emulsions through the use of zeolites and other natural minerals. This review encompasses innovative and novel approaches to oily wastewater treatment and provides scientific background for future work that will be aimed at reducing the adverse impact of the discharge of oily wastewater into the environment. The current challenges affecting the optimal performance of oily wastewater treatment methods and opportunities for future research development in this field are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute Center for Water and Environment, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Sanaa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jamaly
authors.affiliation: Institute Center for Water and Environment, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Adewale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giwa
authors.affiliation: Institute Center for Water and Environment, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: swajih@masdar.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Shadi Wajih
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Biological; Electrochemical; Membrane; Oily wastewater; Treatment