Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2009NC120B

Protecting Receiving Waters: Removal of Biochemically Active Compounds from Wastewater by Ozonation and Activated Carbon Adsorption Processes

Institute: North Carolina
Year Established: 2009 Start Date: 2009-03-01 End Date: 2010-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $25,778 Total Non-Federal Funds: $44,455

Principal Investigators: Detlef Knappe, Francis de los Reyes

Abstract: The presence of biochemically active compounds (BACs) such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), antimicrobial compounds, and other pharmaceutically active compounds in the aquatic environment is an issue of increasing concern. For example, the presence of EDCs has caused intersexuality and gender bending in fish, and the presence of antimicrobial compounds may lead to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The goal of the proposed research is to evaluate two advanced wastewater treatment strategies (ozonation and activated carbon adsorption) that, when applied individually, are expected to provide (cost-)effective barriers against the release of BACs into North Carolina surface waters. The objectives of this research are (1) to measure oxidation kinetics of six model BACs during ozonation of NC wastewater matrices and, with the aid of a mathematical model, predict ozone doses required to achieve BAC oxidation levels of 90 and 99% for wide range of BACs and (2) to identify suitable powdered activated carbon (PAC) types and effective PAC addition points in wastewater treatment plants and determine PAC doses that yield BAC removals of 90 and 99%. The experimental portion of the proposed research will be conducted with six model BACs (bezafibrate, diazepam, diclofenac, 17ethinyl estradiol, ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole) that are commonly found in municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents. The selected BACs represent the spectrum of easily, moderately, and poorly oxidizable compounds by ozone and easily, moderately, and poorly adsorbable compounds by activated carbon. Benefits of the proposed research include new information for NC utilities on the (cost-)effectiveness of advanced wastewater treatment processes that, when incorporated into NC WWTPs, would lead to improved habitat for aquatic life and improved water quality for drinking water treatment plants that rely on surface water sources impacted by upstream WWTP discharges.