Presence and Reduction of Anthropogenic Substances with UV Light and Oxidizing Disinfectants in Wastewater—A Case Study at Kuopio, Finland

Abstract

Anthropogenic substances are a major concern due to their potential harmful effects towards aquatic ecosystems. Because wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to remove these substances from wastewater, a part of the anthropogenic substances enter nature via WWTP discharges. During the spring 2019, the occurrence of anthropogenic substances in the municipal wastewater effluent in Kuopio, Finland, was analysed. Furthermore, the capacity of selected disinfection methods to reduce these substances from wastewater was tested. The disinfection methods were ozonation (760 mL min−1) with an OxTube hermetic dissolution method (1), the combined usage of peracetic acid (PAA) (<5 mg L−1) and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection (12 mJ/cm2) (2), and the combined usage of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (<10 mg L−1) and UV disinfection (12 mJ/cm2) (3). The substances found at the concentrations over 1 µg L−1 in effluent (N = 3) were cetirizine (5.2 ± 1.3 µg L−1), benzotriazole (BZT) (2.1 ± 0.98 µg L−1), hydrochlorothiazide (1.7 ± 0.2 µg L−1), furosemide (1.6 ± 0.2 µg L−1), lamotrigine (1.5 ± 0.06 µg L−1), diclofenac (DCF) (1.4 ± 0.2 µg L−1), venlafaxine (1.0 ± 0.13 µg L−1) and losartan (0.9 ± 0.2 µg L−1). The reduction (%) with different methods (1, 2, 3) were: cetirizine (99.9, 5.0, NR = no removal), benzotriazole (67.9, NR, NR), hydrochlorothiazide (91.1, 5.9, NR), furosemide (99.7, 5.9, NR), lamotrigine (46.4, NR, 6.7), diclofenac (99.7, 7.1, 16.7), venlafaxine (91.3, NR, 1.1), losartan (99.6, 13.8, NR). Further research concerning the tested disinfection methods is needed in order to fully elucidate their potential for removing anthropogenic substances from purified wastewater.

Integrated Water Clarification

“…Moreover, 90% of the respondents used OxTube Integrated Clarification within a second in one through one run [5]. Radon removal from 57 to 8 Bq/L is achieved continuously in five ground water intake installations at water plants.…”

“…efficiency of the integrated water clarification of the 100% reduction of E. coli and MS2 was achieved with an O 3 feed of 2 l/min within 0.7 s, an increase in the oxygen concentration over the MR of 20 mgO 2 /l, and no significant ozone residues/Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Kuopio[5].…”

VoxSton – A New Water Clarification System

“…Radon removal from 57 to 8 Bq/L is achieved continuously in five installations of ground water intakes at Water Plants in The Philippines. Disinfection of a hospital wastewater with ozone is shown in Table 2 [5,6]. Viruses were reduced over 60 percent without any gas and chemicals feed.…”

“…Calcium removal was improved up to 100 percent and CO 2 consumption reduced to 1/5 just by installing one OxTube in the present industrial water treatment facility of a can manufacturer. Reduction of 100% of E. coli and MS2 achieved with O 3 feed within 0.7 second [5,6].…”

Wastewater Treatment: Current and Future Techniques

“…In a study published in this SI, 89.73% of the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was removed from water at optimal conditions using the ferrate (VI) oxidation process [8]. In another study, UV light and oxidizing disinfectants removed from 0% to 99.9% of the amounts of cetirizine, furosemide, diclofenac, losartan, venlafaxine, benzotriazole, and lamotrigine [9]. In addition, Alazaiza et al [10] discussed the performance of several natural coagulants in eliminating pharmaceuticals and personal care products from water bodies.…”