Removal of micropollutants from aerobically treated grey water via ozone and activated carbon

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) 2011-04, Vol.45 (9), p.2887-2896
• Main Authors: Hernández-Leal, L., Temmink, H., Zeeman, G., Buisman, C.J.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: actieve kool; Activated carbon; Adsorption; aerobic treatment; Aerobiosis; afvalwater; afvalwaterbehandeling; Applied sciences; aërobe behandeling; benzalkonium chloride; Benzhydryl Compounds; Biodegradation, Environmental; bisphenol A; Charcoal - chemistry; comparative research; Contact; Cosmetics - analysis; Cosmetics - chemistry; Cosmetics - metabolism; Dosing; Effluents; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Exact sciences and technology; Grey water; Greywater; Household Products - analysis; in-vitro; Micropollutants; Octocrylene; organic-compounds; ozon; ozonation; Ozone; Ozone - chemistry; Personal care products; pharmaceuticals; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - chemistry; Phenols - metabolism; pollutants; Pollution; processors; products; removal; Soaps - analysis; Soaps - chemistry; Soaps - metabolism; Spiking; uv filters; vergelijkend onderzoek; verontreinigende stoffen; verwijdering; vivo; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; waste water; waste water treatment; wastewater; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; waterzuivering
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.03.009

Ozonation and adsorption onto activated carbon were tested for the removal micropollutants of personal care products from aerobically treated grey water. MilliQ water spiked with micropollutants (100–1600 μgL −1) was ozonated at a dosing rate of 1.22. In 45 min, this effectively removed (>99%): Four parabens, bisphenol-A, hexylcinnamic aldehyde, 4-methylbenzylidene-camphor (4MBC), benzophenone-3 (BP3), triclosan, galaxolide and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. After 60 min, the removal efficiency of benzalkonium chloride was 98%, tonalide and nonylphenol 95%, octocrylene 92% and 2-phenyl-5-benzimidazolesulfonic acid (PBSA) 84%. Ozonation of aerobically treated grey water at an applied ozone dose of 15 mgL −1, reduced the concentrations of octocrylene, nonylphenol, triclosan, galaxolide, tonalide and 4-methylbenzylidene-camphor to below limits of quantification, with removal efficiencies of at least 79%. Complete adsorption of all studied micropollutants onto powdered activated carbon (PAC) was observed in batch tests with milliQ water spiked with 100–1600 μgL −1 at a PAC dose of 1.25 gL −1 and a contact time of 5 min. Three granular activated carbon (GAC) column experiments were operated to treat aerobically treated grey water. The operation of a GAC column with aerobically treated grey water spiked with micropollutants in the range of 0.1–10 μgL −1 at a flow of 0.5 bed volumes (BV)h −1 showed micropollutant removal efficiencies higher than 72%. During the operation time of 1728 BV, no breakthrough of TOC or micropollutants was observed. Removal of micropollutants from aerobically treated grey water was tested in a GAC column at a flow of 2 BVh −1. Bisphenol-A, triclosan, tonalide, BP3, galaxolide, nonylphenol and PBSA were effectively removed even after a stable TOC breakthrough of 65% had been reached. After spiking the aerobically treated effluent with micropollutants to concentrations of 10–100 μgL −1, efficient removal to below limits of quantification continued for at least 1440 BV. Both ozonation and adsorption are suitable techniques for the removal of micropollutants from aerobically treated grey water. ► Ozone and activated carbon to remove micropollutants from aerobic grey water. ► Ozonation (15 mgL −1) effectively removes micropollutants. ► Activated carbon column (2–4 BV/h) effectively removes micropollutants. ► Even saturated with organics an activated carbon column can remove micropollutants.