Natural Organic Matter (NOM) Transformations and their Effects on Water Treatment Process: A Contemporary Review

Abstract

One of the several significant concerns related to water treatment plants is the transformation of natural organic matter (NOM) concerning quality and quantity due to the changing climatic conditions. The NOM consists of heterogeneous functionalized groups. Phenolic and carboxyl groups are the dominant groups that are pH-dependent and show a stronger affinity towards the metals. Properties of natural organic matter and trace elements govern the binding kinetics, influencing cations' binding to functionalized groups at lower pH. The water treatment process mechanisms like adsorption, coagulation, membrane filtration, and ion exchange efficiencies are sturdily influenced by the presence of NOM with cations and by the natural organic matter alone. The complexation among the natural organic matter and coagulants enhances the removal of NOM from the coagulation processes. The current review illustrates detailed interactions between natural organic matter and the potential impacts of cations on NOM in the water and wastewater treatment facilities.

Enhanced Oxidation of Antibiotics by Ferrate Mediated with Natural Organic Matter: Role of Phenolic Moieties

“…NOM is a poorly known heterogeneous mixture which derives from the degradation of bacteria, algae, and plant residuals and is ubiquitous in fresh waters . The concentrations of NOM in fresh water are up to 80 mg/L. , NOM contains aliphatic and aromatic moieties, e.g., carbonyl, carboxylic, amines, and phenolics, that may influence the oxidation of micropollutants. Studies on the hydroxyl radical (HO • ) based AOPs have shown the inhibitory effects of NOM on the abatement of micropollutants because of the high reactivity between HO • and NOM, of 10 8 –10 9 M –1 s –1 , and its moieties, e.g., phenol, of ∼10 10 M –1 s –1 . , As a consequence, HO • radicals are often consumed by NOM rather than reacting with the target micropollutants.…”

“… 17 The concentrations of NOM in fresh water are up to 80 mg/L. 18 , 19 NOM contains aliphatic and aromatic moieties, e.g., carbonyl, carboxylic, amines, and phenolics, that may influence the oxidation of micropollutants. Studies on the hydroxyl radical (HO • ) based AOPs have shown the inhibitory effects of NOM on the abatement of micropollutants because of the high reactivity between HO • and NOM, of 10 8 –10 9 M –1 s –1 , 20 and its moieties, e.g., phenol, of ∼10 10 M –1 s –1 .…”

A Review on techniques used for removal of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) from the water

“…Karnena et al, 2021 [86] reviewed the NOM characteristics and showed how the cations interact with the natural organic matter. Later Karnena et al, 2022 [87] removed the NOM from the wastewater using the coagulation techniques and stated that scaling up of studies are required for moving these techniques to be adopted by the water industry [88][89][90].…”