Regeneration of saturated activated carbon by electro-peroxone and ozonation: Fate of micropollutants and their transformation products

Many micropollutants (MPs) that may adversely affect aquatic life when released into the environment are common in modern societies. The presence of MPs is frequently connected to release from wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, advanced treatments needed remove these MPs. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) efficiently removes both laboratory experiments and full-scale applications. However, its single-use nature difficulty handling spent PAC have limited popularity this approach. various methods for regeneration been investigated. current study compares two regenerating saturated with MPs: ozonation electro-peroxone (E-peroxone) process. Six were tested: benzotriazole, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), trimethoprim. Both achieved efficiencies (REs) >100% four REs diclofenac (95–102%) PFOA (67–69%) below 100%. Surface characterization showed did not restore micro- mesopores mainly responsible sorption by virgin PAC. Instead, onto regenerated was determined be related different interactions between surface MPs' ionic states including electrostatic, H-bonding, electron donor-acceptor interactions. Transformation products adsorbed typically remained sorbed on rather than being transferred effluent.