Removal of trace substances from industrial wastewater by means of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)
Introduction
Trace substances such as those used as active ingredient in pharmaceutical products, which are difficult to break down using biological means, are increasingly being found in wastewater. The application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is a potential method of pre-treating wastewater concentrates, with the objective of converting toxic materials into non-toxic ones and substances that are difficult to break down into biologically recyclable ones. The oxidation reaction with hydroxyl (OH) radicals us d to achieve this is normally effective very quickly. This paper explores the formation of OH radicals and the removal of trace substances by means of ozone, UV/H2O2 and the Fento and photo-Fenton reaction in more detail and outlines some examples of application in practice.