We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Removal of Organic Micropollutants and Microplastics via Ozonation Followed by Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
Summary
A pilot ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration system at a German wastewater treatment plant removed over 80% of organic micropollutants and transformation products, but had minimal impact on microplastic concentrations, indicating a gap in treatment efficacy.
Discharge from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) can result in the emission of organic micropollutants (OMPs) and microplastics (MPs) into the aquatic environment. To prevent this harmful release, a pilot plant consisting of an ozonation followed by a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter was operated at a WWTP in Germany, and its side-effects on the concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) compounds were measured. Over 80% of OMPs and transformation products were removed during the operating time (around 6000 bed volumes) no matter the ozone dose (from around 0.1 to 0.5 mgO3/mgDOC), except for Diatrizoic acid, whose breakthrough appeared at 3500 BV. Formation of the oxidation by-product, NDMA, increased with higher ozone doses, but the concentration remained below 100 ng/L. Bromate was formed at a higher ozone dose (>0.4 mgO3/mgDOC) but at a low concentration—below 10 µg/L. The MP particles detected in the inflow (PE, SBR, PP, and PS) were effectively eliminated to a high degree, with a removal rate of at least 92%. Carbon parameters (COD, DOC, and SAC254) were removed further by the pilot plant, but to different extents. As expected, nitrate was formed during ozonation, while nitrite’s concentration decreased. Further, nitrite decreased and nitrate increased within the GAC filter, while ammonium was eliminated by at least 90%. Total P concentration decreased after the pilot, but the concentration of PO4-P increased.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Ozonation and its Application in Wastewater Treatment
Not relevant to microplastics — this review covers ozonation and catalytic ozonation as wastewater disinfection and organic pollutant degradation technologies, with no focus on microplastic contamination.
Effective Removal of Microplastics Using a Process of Ozonation Followed by Flocculation with Aluminum Sulfate and Polyacrylamide
Researchers tested a two-step water treatment process combining ozonation with flocculation to remove microplastics. They found that ozone pretreatment roughened the microplastic surfaces and added chemical groups that dramatically improved removal rates, from 40% to 91%, during the subsequent flocculation step. The findings suggest this combined approach could significantly enhance microplastic removal in conventional water treatment plants.
Estudo da degradação de microplásticos em água e efluente secundário de estação de tratamento de esgoto por processos baseados em ozônio
This Brazilian study tested ozone-based water treatment processes for degrading polyethylene microplastics in both clean water and secondary wastewater effluent. While ozonation could break down microplastics into smaller fragments and dissolved organic carbon, it did not fully eliminate them, suggesting the need for combined treatment approaches.
Effects of microplastics on the removal of trace organic compounds during ozonation: Oxidation and adsorption of trace organic compounds and byproducts
Microplastics were found to interfere with the ozonation of trace organic compounds in water treatment, with plastic surfaces adsorbing both target pollutants and ozonation byproducts, potentially reducing treatment effectiveness and creating new exposure pathways.
Comparison of AOP, GAC, and Novel Organosilane-Based Process for the Removal of Microplastics at a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant
This study compared three advanced treatment approaches for microplastic removal at a municipal wastewater plant, including advanced oxidation, granular activated carbon, and a novel organosilane-based process, finding that the organosilane method achieved high removal efficiency with practical advantages.