Enhancement of UV/H2O2 Efficacy Using Strong Base Anion Exchange Resins

Abstract

Four surface drinking water sources were selected to investigate the impact of strong base anion (SBA) exchange resins—as a pretreatment to ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2)—on dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrate, UV transmittance, and hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavenging of the water samples. Results demonstrated good efficiency of SBA exchange resins at increasing UV transmittance (up to 75%) and reducing DOC (up to 80%), nitrate (up to 75%), and sulfate (up to 75%) within the ion exchange (IX) conditions applied. Additionally, data confirmed the positive effect of IX treatment at reducing the ·OH scavenging characteristics of the water, especially for high‐DOC/low‐transmittance water sources. Electrical energy per order for removing a probe compound (4‐chlorobenzoic acid) was reduced 20 to 40%, indicating improvement in the efficacy of UV/H2O2 treatment. Study findings demonstrated the potential of using the IX process to improve the quality of water undergoing UV/H2O2 treatment and its subsequent benefits on UV/H2O2 efficacy and electrical energy consumption.