Feasibility and analysis of oxidization of oil sludge by potassium persulfate based on principal component analysis

A substantial amount of oil sludge is produced with the development of petroleum industry. In this study, the feasibility and mechanism of potassium persulfate oxidation are studied, and the key factors in the experiment are determined to efficiently deal with oil sludge of oil exploitation. Results show that the morphological changes of sludge before and after degradation are obvious, and the degradation rate can reach 37.81% under the following conditions: pH of 11, temperature of 55°C, sludge–water ratio of 1:2, dosage of 1.8 mmol/g, and time of 8 h. Further analysis showed that the degradation of oil by persulfate mainly relies on sulfate radicals and hydroxyl groups produced during oxidation. Principal factor and component analyses demonstrate that the pH is an important factor affecting the degradation rate. This research provides an effective method for the treatment of oil sludge.