ITT Study: Ozone Oxidation Treats Micropollutants
ITT Corporation recently released the results of a comprehensive study showing that ozone oxidation is highly effective for treating micropollutants like endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). These potentially threatening substances, such as discarded pharmaceuticals, can be found in municipal wastewater effluents.
The results were outlined in a presentation at the North American Regional joint conference of the International Ozone Association (IOA) and International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) in Boston by Achim Ried, Ph.D., director of Research and Development at ITT's Water and Wastewater business in Germany.
“EDCs in the water stream are a serious issue in water treatment, potentially threatening people and wildlife,” said Ried. “Ozone oxidation offers proven advantages over traditional chlorination and other oxidation processes that can't effectively deal with organic micropollutants like pharmaceuticals. ITT studied ozone treatment of EDCs at nine wastewater treatment facilities across Europe over a period of 10 years. We found that ozone treatment usually offers proven advantages for comprehensive disinfection as well as for color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reductions.”
High (more than 90 percent) removal rates are achieved for most of the investigated compounds by using ozone oxidation, Ried said. The studies also showed that ozone treatment ensures selective oxidation of contaminants and is more energy-efficient and cost-effective than other advanced oxidation processes.
ITT has delivered its WEDECO® ozone technology for the world's first full-scale demonstration at a municipal plant in Switzerland. After successful trial operations that concluded late last year, ITT received an order to deliver its technology for a second full-scale demonstration at another plant, also in Switzerland.
Ried joined ITT Corporation's Water and Wastewater business in 1993 and has served in a variety of technical positions at its WEDECO® unit in Hereford, Germany over the last 16 years. He is a member of the German Association of Chemists, the International Ozone Association, FIGAWA (the German Association of Water Treatment and Gas Production), and the International Water Association. He studied at the University of Gottingen and the University of Marburg, and holds a degree in chemistry, as well as a doctorate in environmental chemistry.