Ozone-Based Processes Applied to Municipal Secondary Effluents

This study analyzes the performances of 2 methods of oxidation based on ozone, namely ozonation and ozone combined with hydrogen peroxide (O3/H2O2), on two biotreated municipal wastewater effluents. The main parameters monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of the processes were Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5). Ozonation and O3/H2O2 treatment removed 44% and 48%, respectively, of the COD, after 90 min, of the secondary effluent of Calafell wastewater treatment plant (Spain). On the secondary effluent from the Grasse wastewater treatment plant (France), these same treatments (O3; O3/H2O2) achieved, respectively, a degradation of 52% and 100% of the COD after 60 min. The transferred ozone dose (TOD) during Calafell and Grasse effluents' ozonation were 122 mg·L−1 and 77 mg·L−1 after 90 min, respectively. A low removal of DOC was monitored during both O3 or O3/H2O2 treatments applied to Calafell wastewater, respectively 12% and 14%. Better DOC reductions were obtained on the water of Grasse treated with O3 or O3/H2O2, respectively, 48% and 60%. In addition, ammonia nitrogen was oxidized to nitrate nitrogen thus giving rise to an over ozone consumption. And finally, both processes proceeded with an increase of pH values. These results highlight the strong dependency of O3 or O3/H2O2 treatment effectiveness in terms of dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal and ozone consumption on wastewater composition (organic and inorganic substances).