The role of metal ions in removing recalcitrant contaminants of emerging concern by catalytic ozonation

• Grant number: 23/02506-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: May 30, 2023
• End date: May 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Renato Falcão Dantas
• Grantee: Rodrigo Pereira Cavalcante
• Supervisor: Carmen Sans Mazon
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Tecnologia (FT). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/26210-8 - Investigation of the contribution of advanced oxidation processes in the multi-barrier treatment of biotreated effluents, BP.PD

Abstract

The ozonation process has been widely used as an advanced treatment for the remediation of effluents, with the purpose of reuse, due to the ability of ozone to oxidize effectively most organic compounds and to destroy pathogens. However, it has been reported that in most cases, ozonation is not able to completely mineralize the emerging contaminants and consequently can generate more toxic intermediates than the target compound. The removal of contaminants and the economic efficiency of the ozonation process can be further improved by the addition of appropriate catalysts. In this context, this project proposes to evaluate the suitability of catalytic ozonation for use in removing the mixture of emerging contaminants in samples of municipal wastewater. For this proposal, four different transition metal ions, i.e. Fe2+, Mn2+, Co2+ and Zn2+, will be studied at different concentrations. The influence of ozone dose, pH and reaction time will also be evaluated. To find the conditions considered ideal for these variables that affect the treatment of ECs by catalytic ozonation, a 24 central composite design based on the response surface methodology will be used. Efficiency assessment will be based on the ability of catalytic ozonation to result in reductions in concentrations of emerging contaminants (monitored by high performance liquid chromatography), mineralization (from measurements of total organic carbon (TOC)) and ecotoxicity (assays that employ the bioindicators Artemia salina and Lactuca sativa). This project also proposes to investigate the role of hydroxyl radicals for pollutants abatement during catalytic ozonation by the conventional scavenger approach. (AU)