Photochemical treatment as an alternative to improve the quality of wastewater after advanced primary treatment

Abstract

The present research contains the photochemical treatment (PCT) of residual wastewater effluent derived from an advanced primary treatment process (APT). The application employed an ultraviolet light system, hydrogen peroxide and ozone as a free hydroxyl's radicals generator; strong oxidants for the organic contaminants mineralization which affects the water quality. The aliquots of the APT and PCT were analyzed by determination of the parameters as the color, turbidity, electric conductivity, COD, UV-Vis spectrometry, anion and cation techniques, enabling the determination of the photo-oxidative wastewater treatment efficiency. The microbiological assays denote the one hundred percent photo-oxidative effectiveness for the removal of undesirable microorganisms. After the treatment, the water is suitable for its reuse, commercialization or spill into a body receptor without any risk for the environment or the health.