Quenching residual H2O2 from UV/H2O2 with granular activated carbon: A significant impact of bicarbonate

Abstract

UV/H2O2 has been used as an advanced oxidation process to remove organic micropollutants from drinking water. It is essential to quench residual H2O2 to prevent increased chlorine demand during chlorination/chloramination and within distribution systems. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filter can quench the residual oxidant and eliminate some of the dissolved organic matter. However, knowledge on the kinetics and governing factors of GAC quenching of residual H2O2 from UV/H2O2 and the mechanism underlying the enhancement of the process by HCO3− is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the kinetics and influential factors, particularly the significant impact of bicarbonate (HCO3−). H2O2 decomposition by GAC followed first-order kinetics, and the rate constants normalised by the GAC dosage (kn) were steady (1.6 × 10−3 L g−1 min−1) with variations in the GAC dosage and initial H2O2 concentration. Alkaline conditions favour H2O2 quenching. The content of basic groups exhibited a stronger correlation with the efficiency of GAC in quenching H₂O₂ than did the acidic groups， with their specific kn values being 8.9 and 2.4 min−1 M−1, respectively. The presence of chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and dissolved organic matter inhibited H2O2 quenching, while HCO3− promoted it. The interfacial hydroxyl radical (HO•) zones were visualised on the GAC surface, and HCO3− addition increased the HO• concentration. HCO3− increased the concentration of persistent free radicals (PFRs) on the GAC surface, which mainly contributed to HO• generation. A significant enhancement of HCO3− on H2O2 quenching by GAC was also verified in real water. This study revealed the synergistic mechanism of HCO3− and GAC on H2O2 quenching and presents the potential applications of residual H2O2 in the H2O2-based oxidation processes.