Chelating agents supported solar photo-Fenton and sunlight/H2O2 processes for pharmaceuticals removal and resistant pathogens inactivation in quaternary treatment for urban wastewater reuse

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2023-06, Vol.452, p.131235-131235, Article 131235
• Main Authors: La Manna, Pellegrino, De Carluccio, Marco, Iannece, Patrizia, Vigliotta, Giovanni, Proto, Antonio, Rizzo, Luigi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced oxidation processes; Contaminants of emerging concern; Natural pH; Photo-Fenton like; Viruses
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131235

In this work, Fe3+-iminodisuccinic acid (Fe:IDS) based solar photo Fenton (SPF), an Italian patented method, was investigated in quaternary treatment of real urban wastewater and compared to Fe3+-ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (Fe:EDDS) for the first time. Three pharmaceuticals (PCs) (sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine and trimethoprim) and four pathogens (Escherichia coli, somatic and F-plus coliphages, Clostridium perfringens, consistently with the new EU regulation for wastewater reuse (2020/741)), were chosen as target pollutants. SPF with Fe:EDDS was more effective in PCs removal (80%, 10 kJ L−1) than the SPF with Fe:IDS (58%), possibly due to the higher capability of generating hydroxyl radicals. On the contrary, Fe:IDS was more effective (4.3 log inactivation for E. coli) than Fe:EDDS (1.9 log) in pathogens inactivation, possibly due to a lower iron precipitation and turbidity which finally promoted an improved intracellular photo-Fenton mechanism. Fe:L based SPF was subsequently coupled to sunlight/H2O2. Interestingly, while its combination with Fe:EDDS based SPF slightly increased disinfectant efficacy (2.3 vs 1.9 log inactivation for E. coli), the combination with Fe:IDS decreased inactivation efficiency (3.4 vs 4.3 log reduction). In conclusion, due to the good compromise between PCs removal and disinfection efficiency, Fe:IDS SPF alone is an attractive option for quaternary treatment for urban wastewater reuse. [Display omitted] •Fe:IDS solar photo Fenton (SPF) was more effective in pathogens inactivation.•Fe:EDDS SPF was more effective in pharmaceuticals (PCs) removal.•Fe:Ligand SPF was successful in simultaneous disinfection and PCs removal.•Sequential treatment sunlight/H2O2-SPF increased disinfection efficiency of Fe:EDDS/•Fe:IDS SPF effluent in compliance with E. coli limit for wastewater reuse in EU/