Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3237
Scaling-ion removal from high-salinity produced water via sono-electrocoagulation: interplay of floc microstructure and electrochemical surface activity
Reno Pratiwi
; Petroleum Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth and Energy Technology, Universitas Trisakti, Jalan Letjen S. Parman 1, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia
*
Kartika Fajarwati Hartono
; Petroleum Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth and Energy Technology, Universitas Trisakti, Jalan Letjen S. Parman 1, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia
Maman Djumantara
; Petroleum Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth and Energy Technology, Universitas Trisakti, Jalan Letjen S. Parman 1, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia
Dina Asmaul Chusniyah
; Petroleum Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth and Energy Technology, Universitas Trisakti, Jalan Letjen S. Parman 1, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia and Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100029, China
Wiwik Dahani
; Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth and Energy Technology, Universitas Trisakti, Jalan Letjen S. Parman 1, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia
Tiur Elysabeth
; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Serang Raya, Serang 42162, Indonesia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Produced water from oil fields contains complex dissolved organic and inorganic species, including Ca²⁺, HCO₃⁻, and CO₃²⁻, which induce CaCO₃ scaling and hinder waterflooding operations. This study investigated the performance of electrocoagulation (EC) and ultrasonic-assisted electrocoagulation (sono-EC) for treating native produced water from Indonesian oil fields, focusing on scaling ion removal, floc structural characteristics, and hydrogen evolution. Experiments were conducted at pH 5, 7 and 9 using Al-SS316 electrodes under constant current conditions, with intermittent sonication applied to enhance Al³⁺ release and suppress electrode passivation. The results demonstrated that pH 7 provides optimal conditions for the formation of stable amorphous Al(OH)₃ flocs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a porous lamellar morphology that promotes ion adsorption and co-precipitation, resulting in the highest removal efficiencies of Ca²⁺, HCO₃⁻ and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Sonication further enhanced process performance by inducing cavitation-driven micro-mixing, accelerating floc growth, and increasing hydrogen evolution. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda analyses confirmed pronounced pH-dependent differences in floc porosity and surface characteristics, which mechanistically explained variations in ion capture behaviour. Overall, the sono-EC operated at neutral pH offers an effective strategy to mitigate scaling potential, while hydrogen evolution is used as an electrochemical indicator of cathodic surface activity.
Keywords
Produced water pollutants; electrochemical removal; ultrasonic treatment; scale causing ions; flocs characterization; hydrogen evolution; Faradaic efficiency
Hrčak ID:
346193
URI
Publication date:
5.4.2026.
Visits: 58 *