The removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and other micropollutants from treated wastewater has been compared using reverse osmosis and ozonation. Ozone/biofiltration and RO are comparable for micropollutant removal, but ozonation is better than RO in terms of energy consumption, water recovery, and waste production. This pilot-scale research project at the University of New Mexico investigated and compared the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and other micropollutants from treated wastewater by ozone/biofiltration and reverse osmosis (RO). The reduction in UV254 absorbance as a function of ozone dose correlated well with the reduction in non-biodegradable dissolved organic carbon and simultaneous production of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC). BDOC analysis demonstrated that ozone does not mineralise organics in treated wastewater, and that biofiltration can remove the organic oxidation products of ozonation. Biofiltration is recommended for treatment of ozone contactor effluent, to minimise the presence of unknown micropollutant oxidation products in the treated water. Ozone/biofiltration and RO were compared on the basis of micropollutant removal efficiency, energy consumption, and waste production. Ozone doses of 4–8 mg/L were nearly as effective as RO for removing micropollutants. When wider environmental impacts such as energy consumption, water recovery, and waste production are considered, ozone/biofiltration may be a more desirable process than RO for removing PPCPs and other trace organics from treated wastewater. Source: workingwithwater.filtsep.com
Source:
http://workingwithwater.filtsep.com/view/24838/ozone-biofiltration-as-alternative-to-reverse-osmosis-for-removing-ppcps-from-treated-wastewater/
