Removing dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons, particularly BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), from polluted water requires careful consideration of several factors:

1. Target Pollutants:

• BTEX: These are volatile aromatic hydrocarbons, with varying water solubility (benzene > toluene > ethylbenzene > xylenes).
• Other hydrocarbons: Depending on the source of pollution, heavier hydrocarbons like naphthalene and PAHs might also be present, requiring different treatment approaches.

2. Water Matrix:

• Salinity: Saltwater can affect the solubility and behavior of BTEX, influencing treatment effectiveness.
• pH and other dissolved constituents can impact adsorption, precipitation, and biodegradation processes.

3. Treatment Objectives:

• Desired removal efficiency: How much BTEX needs to be removed to meet regulatory standards or reuse goals?
• Treatment time and cost: Different methods vary in speed and require different equipment and maintenance, impacting overall cost.

Here are some potential treatment methods for BTEX removal:

1. Physical separation:

• Air stripping: Effective for volatile BTEX, using air or vacuum to transfer them from water to air, followed by capture or treatment of the air stream.
• Membrane filtration: Reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membranes can separate BTEX based on size and charge, but fouling can be an issue.

2. Adsorption:

• Activated carbon: Highly effective for removing BTEX due to its large surface area and strong adsorption capacity. Requires regeneration or replacement.
• Other adsorbents: Zeolites and resins can target specific BTEX components or co-contaminants.

3. Biodegradation:

• Natural attenuation: Indigenous microbes can slowly degrade BTEX over time, but may require nutrient addition and favorable environmental conditions.
• Bioaugmentation: Adding specific BTEX-degrading cultures can accelerate biodegradation, especially for recalcitrant compounds.

4. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs):

• Ozonation, UV/H2O2, Fenton's reagent: Generate hydroxyl radicals that break down BTEX into smaller, more biodegradable molecules. It is effective for a wider range of pollutants but can be energy-intensive.

Choosing the best method depends on a site-specific analysis of:

• BTEX composition and concentration.
• Water quality and volume.
• Regulatory requirements.
• Available resources and budget.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Combination of methods: Often, a multi-barrier approach combining different treatment steps is most effective for complex mixtures like petroleum-polluted water.
• Pre-treatment: Removing suspended solids or adjusting pH might be necessary before applying certain technologies.
• Residuals management: Disposal or treatment of spent adsorbents, biosolids, or concentrated BTEX fractions need to be addressed.

Consulting with environmental engineers or water treatment specialists is highly recommended. They can assess your specific situation, perform necessary tests, and design a customized and sustainable treatment plan for removing BTEX and other petroleum hydrocarbons from your polluted water.

I hope this information provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and options for tackling BTEX-contaminated water. Feel free to ask any further questions you might have!

Try adsorption. Perhaps an activated carbon or a bentonite?

Thanks. what of Filtration to remove floatable solids followed by bioremediation perhaps another series of filtration processes.