Effect of Application of Ozone and Ozone Combined with Hydrogen Peroxide and Titanium Dioxide in the Removal of Pesticides From Water

Abstract

The aim of this research work is to study the influence of hydrogen peroxide and titanium dioxide in the ozone-based treatment to degrade 44 organic pesticides present in natural water, which are systematically detected in the Ebro River Basin (Spain). The studied pesticides are: alachlor, aldrin, ametryn, atrazine, chlorfenvinfos, chlorpyrifos, pp'-DDD, op'-DDE, op'-DDT. pp'-DDT, desethylatrazine, 3,4-dichloroaniline, 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone, dicofol, dieldrin, dimethoate, diuron, α-endosulphan, endosulphan-sulphate, endrin, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide A, heptachlor epoxide B, hexachlorobenzene, isodrin, 4-isopropylaniline, isoproturon, metholachlor, methoxychlor, molinate, parathion methyl, parathion ethyl, prometon, prometryn, propazine, simazine, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, tetradifon and trifluralin. The ozonation using 3 mg O₃ L⁻¹ produces a pesticides removal close to 23%, whereas the application of O₃/H₂O₂ and O₃/TiO₂ treatments achieves average degradation yields lower than the ozonation. However, the application of O₃/H₂O₂ /TiO₂ process improves considerably the pesticides degradation and an average degradation yield of 36% is obtained.

Keywords:

• Ozone
• Pesticides
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Titanium Dioxide
• Advanced Oxidation
• Catalytic Ozonation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors wish to thank to the “Secretaría de Estado de Universidad e Investigación del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia” for financing this research by the CTM2005-04585/TECNO project “Aplicación de técnicas de oxidación avanzada en la potabilización de aguas naturales de la cuenca del Ebro” and CTM2008-01876/TECNO project “Regeneración de aguas depuradas mediante procesos de oxidación avanzada”.

Notes

Directive 2000/60/CE of 23 of October of 2000, related to communal marc to actuation about water politic. Diary Official of European Communities (DOCE), n° L 321, 19 of December of 2000.

Directive 2006/11/CE of the European Parliament and Council of 15 of February of 2006, related to pollution caused by dangerous substances tipped in the aquatic environment of the Community. Diary Official of European Communities (DOCE), n° L 64, 4th of March, 2006.