Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Wastewater in a Crude Oil Desalination Plant in Southwest Iran using Simapro9 Software

background & Aims: wastewater from upstream oil industries, including crude oil desalination plants, is an important environmental and health challenge. The present research has been carried out to assess the life cycle (LCA) of the wastewater from the desalination process in a crude oil desalination plant in the southwest of Iran in 2023. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-applied study investigated the LCA of the crude oil desalination process using Simapro9 software and the amount of wastewater flow in the process based on the ILCD 2011 Midpoint V1.03 method and its effects. Quantitative and qualitative parameters of wastewater, petroleum compounds (ASTM D 3921-96), heavy metals (Atomic Absorption- EM900), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs (ISO 17993GC/MS), and other polluting factors related to desalination wastewater were analyzed. The boundaries of the system were determined, and the production of one barrel of crude oil was considered a functional unit. Results: The results showed that the values of total suspended solids (1654 mg/L), total dissolved solids (121650 mg/L), total sulfur (0.78%), chemical oxygen demand (752 mg/L), and Oil and Grease (63 mg/L) in the wastewater sample significantly exceeded the EPA wastewater treatment standards. The average amounts of magnesium, iron, nickel, and vanadium were estimated at 2.73, 2.52, 1.63, and 1.14 mg/L, respectively, and the total of PAHs was 47.41 mg/L. The results of the LCA showed that the effects of soil acidification at 22%, global warming at 20%, the effect of toxicity on humans and the environment at 17%, solid particles at 15%, and carcinogenicity and eutrophication at 9% were the most important environmental effects resulting from the desalination process of crude oil. Conclusion: Conclusion: The results of this research showed the side effects of the desalination process in the production of salty petroleum wastewater.. Therefore, the implementation of environmental management programs for the optimal treatment of wastewater and its reuse is an effective solution to reduce its effects