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Adsorption and transformation of organic micropollutants in wastewater : New insights from 14C-labeling

Betsholtz, Alexander LU (2023)
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the removal of organic micropollutants and transformation products using ozone and activated carbon treatment processes. A combination of 14C-labeled and non-radiolabeled organic micropollutants was used to study aspects of micropollutant removal from novel perspectives.

14C-labeled ozone transformation products (OTPs) were generated by ozonation of 14C-labeled micropollutants and used to study the combined removal of OTPs via adsorption onto powdered activated carbon. A successive decrease in OTP adsorption was observed with increasing ozone doses, compared with adsorption of the parent compounds, suggesting that adsorption onto activated carbon alone is not viable for removing OTPs.

14C-labeled... (More)
This thesis focuses on the removal of organic micropollutants and transformation products using ozone and activated carbon treatment processes. A combination of 14C-labeled and non-radiolabeled organic micropollutants was used to study aspects of micropollutant removal from novel perspectives.

14C-labeled ozone transformation products (OTPs) were generated by ozonation of 14C-labeled micropollutants and used to study the combined removal of OTPs via adsorption onto powdered activated carbon. A successive decrease in OTP adsorption was observed with increasing ozone doses, compared with adsorption of the parent compounds, suggesting that adsorption onto activated carbon alone is not viable for removing OTPs.

14C-labeled micropollutants were also used to separate biological degradation (biodegradation) from adsorption in granular activated carbon (GAC) filters via the formation of 14CO2 from 14C-labeled moieties. It was shown that previously adsorbed diclofenac could be subsequently degraded, and the GAC biofilm demonstrated diclofenac biodegradation rates high enough for substantial diclofenac removal by GAC filters under typical operating conditions. The retention of micropollutants in GAC filters, by decoupling biological degradation time from hydraulic retention time, was then hypothesized to improve the conditions for biological degradation of certain micropollutants.

Lastly, 14C-labeled micropollutants were used to examine the mineralization (14CO2 formation) of 14C-labeled moieties in organic micropollutants during ozonation. Based on 14CO2 formation, several transformation pathways were confirmed during ozonation, including the cleavage of aromatic rings in sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine, and bisphenol A and the decarboxylation of carboxylic groups in diclofenac and ibuprofen. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Dr. McArdell, Christa, Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
activated carbon, ozonation, Organic micropollutants, pharmaceuticals, wastewater, transformation products, biological degradation, GAC-filters, adsorption, 14C-labeling
pages
98 pages
publisher
Chemical Engineering, Lund University
defense location
Lecture Hall KC:C, Kemicentrum, Naturvetarvägen 14, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund. The dissertation will be live streamed, but part of the premises is to be excluded from the live stream.
defense date
2023-10-13 09:00:00
ISBN
978-91-7422-982-0
978-91-7422-983-7
project
Energy efficient methods for removal of pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants from waste water
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1437b4ad-a791-44f1-895c-c610f0bba43a
date added to LUP
2023-09-19 17:34:01
date last changed
2023-09-22 08:40:31
@phdthesis{1437b4ad-a791-44f1-895c-c610f0bba43a,
  abstract     = {{This thesis focuses on the removal of organic micropollutants and transformation products using ozone and activated carbon treatment processes. A combination of 14C-labeled and non-radiolabeled organic micropollutants was used to study aspects of micropollutant removal from novel perspectives. <br/><br/>14C-labeled ozone transformation products (OTPs) were generated by ozonation of 14C-labeled micropollutants and used to study the combined removal of OTPs via adsorption onto powdered activated carbon. A successive decrease in OTP adsorption was observed with increasing ozone doses, compared with adsorption of the parent compounds, suggesting that adsorption onto activated carbon alone is not viable for removing OTPs.<br/><br/>14C-labeled micropollutants were also used to separate biological degradation (biodegradation) from adsorption in granular activated carbon (GAC) filters via the formation of 14CO2 from 14C-labeled moieties. It was shown that previously adsorbed diclofenac could be subsequently degraded, and the GAC biofilm demonstrated diclofenac biodegradation rates high enough for substantial diclofenac removal by GAC filters under typical operating conditions. The retention of micropollutants in GAC filters, by decoupling biological degradation time from hydraulic retention time, was then hypothesized to improve the conditions for biological degradation of certain micropollutants.<br/><br/>Lastly, 14C-labeled micropollutants were used to examine the mineralization (14CO2 formation) of 14C-labeled moieties in organic micropollutants during ozonation. Based on 14CO2 formation, several transformation pathways were confirmed during ozonation, including the cleavage of aromatic rings in sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine, and bisphenol A and the decarboxylation of carboxylic groups in diclofenac and ibuprofen.}},
  author       = {{Betsholtz, Alexander}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7422-982-0}},
  keywords     = {{activated carbon; ozonation; Organic micropollutants; pharmaceuticals; wastewater; transformation products; biological degradation; GAC-filters; adsorption; 14C-labeling}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{Chemical Engineering, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Adsorption and transformation of organic micropollutants in wastewater : New insights from 14C-labeling}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/158955605/Alexander_Betsholtz_WEBB.pdf}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}