Studies in Radiation Chemistry: Application to Ozonation and Other Advanced Oxidation Processes

Advanced oxidation/reduction processes (AORPs) are an alternative water treatment that is becoming more widely utilized. Our radiation-chemistry based studies are being used to develop a fundamental understanding of AOP treatment options, and are divided into three complementary types of contaminants; disinfection by-products (DBPs), emerging pollutants of concern (EPoCs), and natural organic matter (NOM). More than 600 DBPs have been identified, and one class that appears to have severe potential adverse health effects is the halonitromethanes (HNMs). Of the nine HNMs, trichloronitromethane (chloropicrin) is the most common, with levels up to 180 nM in US drinking waters. EPoCs are of interest because of their biological activity at low concentrations in water and while the initial focus was on endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) this class has now been expanded to include many other recalcitrant chemicals such as hormones, antibiotics, industrial contaminants, and health care products. Natural organic matter is one of the most common radical scavengers in natural waters and therefore may adversely affect AOPs. Our approach is to study NOM both directly and using model compounds thought to be representative of structural components of this complex material.