ORGANICS REMOVAL FROM REVERSE OSMOSIS CONCENTRATE THROUGH THE USE OF ADVANCED OXIDATION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVATED CARBON PROCESSES

Abstract

UV+H2O2+BAC system was effective in removing organics from the ROC. BAC treatment was found to be ineffective in organics removal from ROC. With an EBCT of 40 minutes, the TOC removal was 26%. MP UV lamp achieved 9% TOC removal and 30% UV254 removal with a contact time of 2.5 minutes while VUV achieved 2% TOC removal and 11% UV254 removal. The combined usage of VUV and MP UV lamp during AOP had proven to be effective in the oxidation of organics in ROC. The hydroxyl radicals formed during AOP were effective in the oxidation of aromatics, reducing the UV254 significantly and increasing the biodegradability of the ROC. As a result, when the AOP treated ROC was fed into the BAC reactors, organics removal increased significantly. An increase in H2O2 dosage during AOP also brought about a higher organics removal in the combined system.