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Enhanced Removal of Micropollutants from Groundwater, Using pH Modification Coupled with Photolysis

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Abstract

Direct ultraviolet (UV) photolysis coupled with modification of solution pH was explored as a method for the removal of organic micropollutants from groundwater. Photodegradation rates of most of the investigated compounds were pH dependent, however, its correlation with photodegradation rate varied among compounds. The potential of the pH modification during photolysis was determined for removal of a mixture of two pharmaceuticals sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and triclosan (TCS) in groundwater. The treatment included initial photolysis of the mixture at the optimal pH for TCS (i.e., 7.5–7.9), followed by pH modification to the optimal pH for SMX (i.e., 5), prior to a second irradiation period. The described procedure dramatically increased the removal efficiency (up to threefold) of the treated mixture compared to UV treatment at constant pH.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Yair Lakretz for his essential comments. This study was funded by the Israeli Water Authority.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hydrochemistry Laboratory, Geography and the Environment, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Yaal Lester & Dror Avisar

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Yaal Lester & Hadas Mamane

  3. Hydrochemisry, Geography and the Environment, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Dror Avisar

Authors
  1. Yaal Lester
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  2. Hadas Mamane
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  3. Dror Avisar
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Correspondence to Dror Avisar.

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Lester, Y., Mamane, H. & Avisar, D. Enhanced Removal of Micropollutants from Groundwater, Using pH Modification Coupled with Photolysis. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 1639–1647 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0971-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0971-x

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