Ozone/electron beam process for water treatment: Design,limitations and economic considerations

Electron beam irradiation of water is technically the easiest way to generate OH free radicals but the efficiency of the irradiation process as an advanced oxidation process (AOP) is deteriorated by reducing species formed simultaneously with the OH free radicals. Addition of ozone to the water before or during irradiation improves the efficiency by converting the reducing species into OH free radicals and turning the irradiation process into a full AOP. The main reaction pathways of the primary species formed by the action of ionizing radiation on water in a natural groundwater with and without the presence of ozone are reviewed. Based on these data an explanation of both the dose rate effect and the ozone effect is attempted. New data are presented which illustrate the effect of alkalinity on the way in which ozone is introduced into the water, and the impact of both water matrix and chemical structure of the pollutants to the efficacy of the ozone/electron beam process.