THE EFFICACY OF MIXED OXIDANTS TO DISINFECT AND POLISH PORTABLE AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS

摘要

The efficacy of mixed oxidants was compared to ozone for the destruction of MTBE in DI water. Mixed oxidants are generated by the Purizer process, in which oxygen and water are subjected to a proprietary electrocatalytic system. Initial results show 43.9% removal by ozone and 57.7% removal by mixed oxidants at a contact time of 20 minutes. MicroTox tests resulted in higher toxicity of samples treated with ozone than mixed oxidants; the results indicate the Purizer process may also be a more effective pretreatment option than ozone for wastewater. The efficacy of ozone and mixed oxidants will be compared for disinfection of microorganisms and the oxidation of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors. The microorganisms studied will be fecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci, and MS2 phage. The three target chemicals studied will be bisphenol-A, 17β-estradiol, and naproxyn. Bisphenol-A, a plasticizing agent, is a suspected endocrine disruptor. 17β-estradiol, a naturally occurring estrogen, is an endocrine disruptor. Naproxyn is an analgesic but has no known endocrine disrupting effects. All three compounds have been detected in trace amounts in New Orleans area drinking water sources. Destruction of target compounds will be studied in deionized water only. Each sample will be analyzed for ORP, pH, temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen as well as TOC and COD. Concentrations of organics will be measured using GC-MS. Future studies will characterize the breakdown products, if any are created in oxidation of the target compounds.