RT journal article
T1 Iron recovery from water clarification sludge as ferric chloride
A1 Ramírez-Perez, Juan Antonio
A1 Soto Cruz, Francisco Javier
A1 Gázquez González, Manuel Jesús
A1 Pérez-Moreno, Silvia María
A1 Bolívar, Juan Pedro
A2 Física Aplicada
K1 Circular economy
K1 Ferric chloride
K1 Waste minimization
K1 Leaching test
K1 Hydrochloric acid
K1 Coagulant
AB The circular economy (CE) promotes strategies aimed at waste minimization, treatment, and resource recovery, integrating industrial development with environmental and socioeconomic priorities. In this context, the present study investigates the recovery of iron from an oil refinery sludge generated during the water clarification stage of a steam production plant. This residue exhibits a high iron content (37 wt.%), highlighting its potential as a secondary raw material and alternative iron source. Iron recovery was carried out by hydrochloric acid (HCl)leaching under different operating conditions, including HCl concentration, reaction time, temperature, and solid/liquid ratio (S/L). These parameters were investigated to optimize iron dissolution and obtain ferric chloride, a coagulant widely used in water treatment processes. Optimal leaching conditions (37 wt.% HCl, room temperature, 24 h of agitation, S/L = 1/3.5) produced leachates containing 13.4 wt.% Fe, a value comparable to that of commercial ferric chloride solutions (≈ 14 wt.%). The recovered ferric chloride was subsequently evaluated as a coagulant in three types of water (irrigation, tap, and distilled water). Removal efficiencies of up to 98.7% for Fe, 95.2% for Cr, 99.8% for Zn, 82.4% for Cu, and 82.6% for As were achieved. These efficiencies are comparable to or approaching those obtained using a commercial reagent. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of valorizing oil refinery sludge into a marketable coagulant, providing environmental benefits while supporting circular economy principles.
PB Elsevier
SN 2772-7378
YR 2026
FD 2026-01-07
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39768
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39768
LA eng
NO Spanish State Research Agency through the project “Diagnosis and proposals for the environmental re covery of areas impacted by industrial and mining activities: Implications for the Huelva estuary (RESTOREHU)” (Ref. TED2021-130361B-I00). tional support was provided by grants PID2020-116461RB-C21 and PID2020-116461RA-C22, financed by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033. Another additional collaboration was the University of Huelva, funded by the Regional Government of Andalusia (REF.: EPIT1432023). “Behaviour of natural radionuclides under acid mine drainage conditions.”). Also, it was funded by the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) “Radon exhalation from building materials; Radiological impact and corrective measures (EXRADON)” (PR-047–2021), by grant PID2020- 116461RB-C21 (RAD-REMOVE). Finally, it collaborated the University of Cadiz Ref: FEDER-UCA-2024-A2-09 "Valorization of resources tained in inorganic waste generated by the TiO₂ industry to promote the transition towards a circular economy".
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 05-nov-2026