Combination of Black‐Light Photo‐catalysis and Ozonation for Emerging Contaminants Degradation in Secondary Effluents

Abstract

AbstractA water solution of emerging contaminants (ECs) was treated by advanced oxidation systems. Ozone‐based processes led to the highest ECs degradation rates. Regardless of the nature of the aqueous matrix, no differences in EC removal were obtained when O3 was added. Mineralization occurred to some extent when activated carbon (AC) or O3 were present. O3, UVA/TiO2/O2, and UVA/TiO2/O3 processes were applied in runs carried out with low ECs concentration. Single ozonation and photocatalytic ozonation led to the complete ECs degradation in less than 5 min. When a secondary effluent was used, the efficiency of the technologies decreased. With the exception of caffeine, a detrimental effect of other organic/inorganic compounds present in secondary effluents was observed.