Chemical oxidizers treat wastewater

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Environmental Protection; (United States)

OSTI ID:6502590

Stephenson, F A ^[1]

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1. Dames Moore, Phoenix, AZ (United States)

Based on the inherent benefits of these original oxidation systems, a second generation of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has emerged. These processes combine key features of the first generation technologies with more sophisticated advances in UV technology, such as the new pulsed plasma xenon flash lamp that emits high-energy, high-intensity UV light. Second generation systems can be equipped with a transmittance controller to prevent lamp fouling or scaling. The coupling of the first generation's technology with the new UV sources provides the rapid destruction of chlorinated and nonchlorinated hydrocarbons and humic acids from contaminated water. It also is effective in the treatment of organic laden gases from soil vapor extraction systems. AOPs may promote the oxidation (and subsequent removal) of heavy metals in water, though few data are available to verify the claim. The success of AOPs, including ozonation with UV light, hydrogen peroxide with UV light and advanced photolysis, is linked with their creation of hydroxyl-free radicals (OH[center dot]) that are effective in eliminating contaminants such as formaldehyde, chlorinated hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents. Hydroxyl free-radicals are consumed in microsecond reactions and exhibit little substrate selectivity with the exception of halogenated alkanes such as chloroform. They can act as chain carriers. Given their power, hydroxyl free-radicals react with virtually all organic solutes more quickly (especially in water) than any other oxidants, except fluorine. There are projects that have found the combination of some AOPs to be the most efficient organic destruction techniques for the job. For example, one project successfully remediated groundwater contaminated with gasoline and Number 2 diesel through successive treatments of ozone and hydrogen peroxide with ultraviolet light, followed by granular activated carbon. 5 refs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6502590
• Journal Information: Environmental Protection; (United States), Vol. 3:10; ISSN 1057-4298
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
GROUND WATER
WET OXIDATION PROCESSES
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE WATER
ACTIVATED CARBON
DIESEL FUELS
FORMALDEHYDE
GASOLINE
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
HYDROXYL RADICALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
OXIDIZERS
OZONIZATION
POLLUTION
SOILS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ADSORBENTS
ALDEHYDES
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DISTILLATES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS OILS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FUELS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEROXIDES
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PROCESSING
RADIATIONS
RADICALS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
020800 - Petroleum- Waste Management
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects