Hydroxyl radicals (OH�) generated by the photolysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM) are capable of reacting with many emerging organic contaminants and influencing their fate in the aquatic environment.  To date little is known about the photochemical properties of wastewater effluent DOM (eDOM) and its ability to form OH� relative to natural DOM.  With wastewater flows contributing increasingly to total flow in urban waterways in the U.S. it is important to characterize wastewater effluent's impact on the photofate of emerging contaminants. The generation of OH� by photolyzed eDOM isolated from wastewater treatment plant outflows is investigated. Preliminary results using caffeine as an OH� probe show no difference between OH� steady state concentrations generated in eDOM isolated from outflow sites and natural DOM isolated upstream of these sites. Benzoic acid, terephthalate and caffeine hydroxyl probes are used in this study and their utility evaluated.

Generation of hydroxyl radicals by dissolved organic matter isolated from wastewater treatment plant outflows

246th National Meeting (2013)

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