Application of Aerogel Immobilized Microorganisms for Pollutants Removal from Offshore Drilling Wastewater: A Review

Due to the production of more drilling wastewater in the process of offshore oil exploitation, it poses a potential threat to the marine ecological environment. Microbial immobilization technology (MIT) has developed rapidly in recent years for the treatment of offshore drilling wastewater due to its advantages of high stability, fast reaction rate and low cost. Green, low-cost and environmentally friendly microbial immobilization carrier is the key to immobilization technology. Aerogel is considered to be an effective carrier for microbial immobilization due to its high porosity and good adsorption performance, which can provide habitat for microorganisms. The use of aerogel-immobilized microorganisms to treat offshore drilling wastewater is a promising treatment method, which can improve the environmental tolerance, reuse rate and degradation efficiency of organic pollutants in drilling wastewater. However, the research on this method is still in its infancy. The interaction mechanism between aerogels and microorganisms has received little attention. Many studies are only carried out in the laboratory. There are still problems such as insufficient carrier stability, difficulty in recovery, and secondary pollution caused by the carrier itself, which need further study. In order to fully understand the technical application of aerogel immobilized microorganisms in offshore drilling wastewater treatment, this paper first summarizes the treatment methods of offshore drilling wastewater based on aerogel, explores the mechanism of aerogel immobilized microorganisms, and systematically reviews the application of aerogel immobilized microorganisms in drilling wastewater. Finally, some suggestions and prospects for future research and practical application are put forward, aiming to provide a new idea for the treatment of offshore drilling wastewater.