Ozone and biofiltration as an alternative to reverse osmosis for removing PPCPs and micropollutants from treated wastewater

This pilot-scale research project investigated and compared the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and other micropollutants from treated wastewater by ozone/biofiltration and reverse osmosis (RO). The reduction in UV₂₅₄ absorbance as a function of ozone dose correlated well with the reduction in nonbiodegradable dissolved organic carbon and simultaneous production of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC). BDOC analyses demonstrated that ozone does not mineralize organics in treated wastewater and that biofiltration can remove the organic oxidation products of ozonation. Biofiltration is recommended for treatment of ozone contactor effluent to minimize the presence of unknown micropollutant oxidation products in the treated water. Ozone/biofiltration and RO were compared on the basis of micropollutant removal efficiency, energy consumption, and waste production. Ozone doses of 4-8 mg/L were nearly as effective as RO for removing micropollutants. When wider environmental impacts such as energy consumption, water recovery, and waste production are considered, ozone/biofiltration may be a more desirable process than RO for removing PPCPs and other trace organics from treated wastewater.     

Biological removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products during laboratory soil aquifer treatment simulation with different primary substrate concentrations

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been detected in bodies of water worldwide, yet their effects on the environment are not fully understood. Recent toxicity studies suggest that mixtures of PPCPs at low concentrations may be detrimental to exposed organisms, highlighting the need to remove PPCPs from wastewater treatment plant effluent before it is discharged to the environment. In this study, the utility of biofilm-based PPCP removal as a means to prevent environmental PPCP contamination was investigated. The removal of 14 PPCPs, each at an initial concentration of 10 μg/L, was studied in laboratory sand columns inoculated with wastewater treatment plant effluent. The examined PPCPs included biosol, biphenylol, p-chloro-m-cresol, p-chloro-m-xylenol, chlorophene, sodium diclofenac, gabapentin, gemfibrozil, 5-fluorouracil, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, triclosan, and valproic acid. Ten of the PPCPs were removed by greater than 95% during column passage, while the four other compounds proved more recalcitrant. The effect of the concentration (either 50 or 1000 μg/L) of an easily degradable primary substrate (acetate) supplied along with the mixture of PPCPs was examined. Most of the tested PPCPs were removed consistently by the biofilms regardless of the concentration of acetate, although the extent of removal for three compounds showed dependence on acetate concentration, and two behaved with no reproducible pattern over time. Biofilm protein measurements indicated that the mixture of PPCPs supplied to columns suppressed biofilm growth, suggesting toxicity of the PPCPs to the biofilm communities. This laboratory-scale experiment suggests that biofilm-based water treatment strategies, such as soil aquifer treatment and slow sand filtration, may be well-suited for the removal of many PPCPs from impacted water.     

Modelisation Of Micropollutant Removal In Drinking Water Treatment By Ozonation Or Advanced Oxidation Processes (O3/H2O2)

A simulation program is described, tested and used, to predict micropollutant removal in an ozonation bubble tower with or without hydrogen peroxide addition. To compute the removal efficiency, we need to know the chemical reactivity between organic compounds and oxidant species (molecular ozone and hydroxyl radicals), the ozone mass transfer from the gaseous phase to the liquid phase (k_La) and the hydrodynamic model describing the reactor. In this case, we divide the reactor into three parts (water arrival, air arrival and intermediate zones). Each part is modelled using completely stirred tank reactors in series (CSTR).

In each CSTR, the calculation of oxidant concentrations (O₃, H₂O₂) is made through mass balance equations and a semi-empirical formula which gives hydroxyl radical concentrations as a function both of ozone concentration and the main characteristics of the water to be treated (pH, TOC, alkalinity). Another semi-empirical formula links ozone consumption to the same characteristics.     

Chemical Regeneration of Mixed-Matrix Membranes for Micropollutant Removal from Wastewater

Incomplete removal of micropollutants in wastewater treatment leads to contamination of the aquatic environment. Mixed-matrix membranes with different shares of embedded adsorbents are considered promising for the elimination of commonly found pharmaceuticals. However, their ideal geometry and reusability after a loading cycle remain uncertain. In this study, the life cycle of loaded membranes could be extended through chemical regeneration with ethanol at different temperatures. Moreover, membrane stability and adsorbent-to-membrane-area ratio could be enhanced through a seven-bore geometry.