The performance of a sulfate-radical mediated advanced oxidation process in the degradation of organic matter from secondary effluents

Abstract

The effects of sulfate radical-mediated advanced oxidation processes with transition metal and energy activation methods were investigated during effluent organic matter (EfOM) degradation. The results showed that transition metal systems and energy systems performed well with some outstanding EfOM removal efficiencies. Specifically, the EfOM removal rate with the Ag(I)/PS (persulfate) system reached 90%, which was far greater than those of Co(II)/PMS (peroxymonosulfate) (56%) and ZVI (zero valence iron)/PS (58%), respectively. Regarding the energy activation systems, they all exhibited both better combined efficiency and the highest efficiency at strong energy intensity (such as heating at 80 °C or treating with UV at 40 W). Further analysis by UV-visible spectroscopy during the reaction process provided a better understanding of the overall changes in every system.