Effects of petrochemical sludge on the slurry-ability of coke water slurry

The coke sludge slurry containing petroleum coke, petrochemical sludge, water and chemical additives was prepared to study effects of petrochemical sludge on its rheological properties and static stability characteristics. In the experiment, rheological properties of coke sludge slurry were investigated with rotational viscometer. The static stability characteristics were analyzed by measuring the mass of the water separated from the slurry in a period. Effects of functional groups, inorganic minerals and surface structure on the slurry ability of coke sludge slurry were explored by the FTIR, XRD and SEM. Results suggest that coke water slurry which does not include petrochemical sludge is a dilatant fluid and petrochemical sludge can alter its theological properties from shear thickening to shear thinning. As the petrochemical sludge amount is less than 6 wt.% of petroleum coke in the coke sludge slurry, coke sludge slurry has similar rheological properties with coke water slurry; when the petrochemical sludge amount is 6 wt.%, coke sludge slurry belongs to Newtonian fluid and turns into pseudo-plastic fluid after the petrochemical sludge amount exceeds 6 wt.%. Besides, petrochemical sludge could improve the static stability characteristics of coke sludge slurry. Hydrophilic functional groups, inorganic minerals and surface structure of petrochemical sludge and petroleum coke play the key role on the theological properties and static stability characteristics of coke sludge slurry. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.