Minimizing oil pollution: a review of current status and its treatment options

Oil contamination is a critical issue affecting global water resources, which originates from a variety of sources, including domestic and industrial activities. The situation has been exacerbated by recent incidents, particularly in marine environments. Effective control measures and technologies are essential for minimizing oil pollution. Several factors influence the efficiency of oil–water separation, such as operating conditions, chemical additives, equipment design, and environmental factors. However, current separation methods often face limitations in terms of time consumption, high operational costs, and large system footprints, which constrain their widespread industrial application. This review explores the status of oil pollution and novel ways of interacting with other water contaminants, along with available methods for reducing oil contamination, with a focus on increasing global crude oil production and its environmental impact. Despite existing discharge regulations, accidental spills and other human activities continue to pose significant risks to water resources. This study discusses a range of methods, from traditional screening techniques to cutting-edge processes, such as adsorption, flotation, filtration, chlorination, and activated/triggered infiltration. In addition, this study highlights the current trends and future directions in the treatment of oily wastewater, emphasizing the need for sustainable and effective solutions for the oil industry. Industrial oily wastewater presents significant environmental and health risks, with varying challenges across developed, emerging, and less-income nations. While developed countries have access to advanced technologies, emerging contaminants pose new challenges. Emerging and less income nations struggle with outdated infrastructure and lack regulatory frameworks. Addressing these issues requires an integrated approach to wastewater treatment that combines biological, chemical, and physical methods to enhance both efficiency and sustainability. This study provides detailed informational material to support policymakers in determining future research directions, encourages the scientific community to undertake innovation in new directions, fosters collaborative efforts, and establishes regulations that promote the adoption of sustainable practices.