UV-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) provide a modern solution for the removal of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, from wastewater treatment plant effluent. Here, hypochlorite photolysis is employed for the removal of four pharmaceuticals: carbamazepine, acetaminophen, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole. The UV/chlorine AOP works via the production of reactive oxygen and chlorine species (ROS and RCS). The presence of RCS is advantageous for DOM-rich effluent due to their selectivity and affinity towards aromatic compounds. UV-LEDs provide further advantage over traditional Hg-fluorescence approach given their higher molar absorptivities at newly available UV wavelengths at relevant pH values. This study analyzed the performance of the UV/chlorine system over a variety of conditions including pH, chlorine content, DOM concentration and DOM type. THE UV/chlorine system was also compared with the UV/H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> system for efficiency. An EPR analysis was conducted to identify and study the role of RCS vis-à-vis ROS in the system. A microtoxicity test was conducted to analyze the potential formation of toxic disinfection byproducts from the UV/Cl system.

Use of UV LEDs for halogen based advanced oxidation processes for removal of micropollutants from DOM-rich water

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.