Photo(Catalytic) oxidation processes for the removal of natural organic matter and contaminants of emerging concern from water

Abstract

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a heterogeneous complex of organic materials and is ubiquitous in natural aquatic systems. The amount of NOM in the environment is continuously increasing because of global warming and/or changes in precipitation patterns and has negative impact on drinking water as it produces an undesirable colour and as a vector for the introduction of contaminants. For these reasons, several technologies have been proposed to address the impact of NOM in aqueous systems. Among these, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) refer to oxidation processes that result in the formation of highly reactive radical species. This chapter presents an overview of recent research studies dealing with photon-activated AOPs for the removal of NOM and emerging contaminants in water.