Simazine removal from water in a continuous bubble column by O3 and O3/H2O2

Simazine, [2-chloro, 4,6-bis(ethylamino)-1,3,5-s-triazine], a common herbicide found in surface and ground water has been ozonized in continuous flow mode. Typical operating variables in ozonation processes have been investigated. Thus, the ozone dose fed to the system exerted a positive effect, while the gas flow rate did not influence the efficiency of the process provided ozone mass flow rate was kept constant. Increasing the pH led to a higher extension of the free radical degradation of simazine and, therefore, to a higher efficiency of the process. Also, addition of free radical promoters, i.e. hydrogen peroxide, did result in a significant improvement of the simazine removal rate. A first approach to process economy showed the system ozone/hydrogen peroxide as the most advantageous in terms of electrical energy requirements.