AWWA WQTC62520

Pharmaceutical substances and personal care products are an emerging class of aquatic contaminants that have been increasingly detected in ground and surface waters worldwide (Halling-Sorensen et al., 1998; Stumpf et al., 1999; Heberer, 2002; Calamari et al., 2003). Metronidazole is extensively used throughout Europe for treating infections caused by anaerobic bacteria and protozoa (Lau et al., 1992). Metronidazole along with other antibacterial and anticoccidial drugs with nitroimidazole structure is suspected of being carcinogens and mutagents (Daeseleire et al., 2000). Being non-biodegradable and soluble in water, metronidazole is not removed during conventional sewage treatment (Kummerer et al., 2000); hence, it can accumulate in the aquatic environment. Consequently, it is of concern to water utilities and a potential threat to drinking water resources. One of the novel technologies for treating polluted sources of drinking water and industrial wastewater is the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) by which hydroxyl radicals are generated in order to degrade organic pollutants (Ku et al., 1997). AOPs can be applied to fully or partially oxidize pollutants, usually using a combination of two or three oxidants. In this study the degradation of metronidazole using UV, UV/H₂O₂, H₂O₂/Fe²⁺, and UV/H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ was investigated. Degradation rates and efficiencies were compared between the UV photolysis and the three advanced oxidation processes applied. Includes 9 references, figures.