Treatment of trace organics in membrane concentrates I: pesticide elimination

The objective of this study was to eliminate organic micropollutants in the membrane system concentrates, which is produced by drinking water production plants, in order to protect existing water resources. This work is divided into two parts, pesticide elimination (I) and natural organic matter removal (II) in membrane system concentrates. Seven commonly detected pesticides in French surface waters, i.e. atrazine, sulcotrione, bentazone, isoproturon, diuron, glyphosate and acetochlore, were selected as the model micropollutants. Removal/degradation of these pesticides was studied by testing conventional processes employed for potable water production, i.e. adsorption, oxidation by ozone and clarification. Only partial removal of these pesticides was achieved with conventional processes. Removal of nonpolar pesticides was obtained by adsorption and rapid degradation of most of the pesticides was observed with low ozone dosages, except for atrazine and its metabolites. On the other hand, only the phosphonate-based pesticides were removed by clarification. By combining these processes, however, almost complete removal of the selected pesticides was achieved. Simultaneous ozonation and adsorption in the same reactor seems to be the most promising option for this study.