Abstract
Effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was treated on-site with the UV/chlorine (UV/HOCl) advanced oxidation process (AOP) using a pilot plant equipped with a medium pressure UV lamp with an adjustable performance of up to 1 kW. Results obtained from parallel experiments with the same pilot plant, where the state of the art UV/H2O2 AOP was applied, were compared regarding the removal of emerging contaminants (EC) and the formation of adsorbable organohalogens (AOX). Furthermore, the total estrogenic activity was measured in samples treated with the UV/chlorine AOP. At an energy consumption of 0.4 kWh/m3 (0.4 kW, 1 m3/h) and in a range of oxidant concentrations from 1 to 6 mg/L, the UV/chlorine AOP had a significantly higher EC removal yield than the UV/H2O2 AOP. With free available chlorine concentrations (FAC) in the UV chamber influent of at least 5 mg/L (11 mg/L of dosed Cl2), the total estrogenic activity could be reduced by at least 97%. To achieve a certain concentration of FAC in the UV chamber influent, double to triple the amount of dosed Cl2 was needed, resulting in AOX concentrations of up to 520 µg/L.
Highlights
Anthropogenic compounds have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, surface water, and ground water over the last years [1,2,3,4,5,6]
In parallel experiments with the same pilot plant, the UV/H2 O2 advanced oxidation process (AOP) was applied for comparison
AOPproved proved a highly effective method regarding the removal of bacteria and the removal of the estrogenic activity and endocrine disrupting compounds from and the removal of the estrogenic activity and endocrine disrupting compounds
Summary
Anthropogenic compounds have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, surface water, and ground water over the last years [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Many compounds, referred to as emerging contaminants (ECs), are brought into the environment by the disposed effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) due to their stability against biological decomposition. These compounds may endanger aquatic life forms and, humans via the food chain. Some endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) interfere with the hormone system [7]. Some compounds may cause cancer in humans [8]. An obligatory, additional treatment step in WWTPs will be required
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