Ozonation is applied as an efficient and cost-effective process for water potabilization or as a last polishing step in wastewater treatment. In addition to disinfection, ozone reacts with the water matrix and in particular with the dissolved organic matter (DOM). Results on the effects of ozonation on the optical properties of model DOM isolates will be presented in conjunction with ozone-induced changes of DOM’s potential to generate reactive species such as singlet oxygen or excited triplet states under simulated solar irradiation. Ozonation induces a large (≤ factor 20) decrease in the light absorption of DOM for the 290-400 nm wavelength interval, an increase (≤ factor 2) in fluorescence quantum yield and a marked increase (≤ factor 9) in singlet oxygen quantum yield. The effects of ozonation on DOM can be rationalized in terms of the selective destruction of chromophores and the conversion of phenol moieties to quinones that have the capacity to efficiently generate singlet oxygen upon irradiation.<br/>This study is an important step forward in explaining the effects of ozonation on the photophysical and photochemical properties of DOM.

Effects of ozone on the photophysical and photochemical properties of dissolved organic matter

255th National Meeting (2018)

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