Performance characterization and kinetic modeling of ozonation using a new method: R_OH,O3 concept

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Oxidation Processes

Background:

• Ozonation effectively removes organic pollutants from water.
• The R_ct concept, used for predicting removal efficiency, shows significant variations with water temperature and initial ozone dose.
• These variations complicate its application in drinking water treatment plants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the R_OH,O3 concept as a superior kinetic parameter for ozonation.
• To demonstrate the independence of R_OH,O3 from temperature and initial ozone dose.
• To compare the utility of R_OH,O3 with the existing R_ct concept for ozonation modeling.

Main Methods:

• Proposed the R_OH,O3 concept, defined as OH exposure per O₃ consumed.
• Utilized R_OH,O3 to characterize OH formation yield from ozone decomposition.
• Applied R_OH,O3 for kinetic modeling of ozone and hydroxyl radical dynamics.

Main Results:

• The R_OH,O3 concept proved independent of water temperature and initial ozone dose.
• Higher R_OH,O3 values correlated with increased hydroxyl radical formation.
• The R_OH,O3 concept accurately predicted pollutant removal efficiencies (R² = 0.98) for iopromide and ibuprofen.

Conclusions:

• The R_OH,O3 concept provides a robust and convenient kinetic parameter for ozonation.
• It allows for effective characterization and modeling of ozone demand and pollutant removal.
• R_OH,O3 offers a more reliable prediction tool for ozonation processes in drinking water treatment.