UVA LEDs and solar light photocatalytic oxidation/ozonation as a tertiary treatment using supported TiO2: With an eye on the photochemical properties of the secondary effluent

Photocatalytic oxidation/ozonation of a mixture eight pharmaceuticals added to secondary effluent, SE, an urban wastewater treatment plant has been studied using TiO2 supported on commercial Al2O3/SiO2 ceramic foams. As radiation source UVA LEDs (365 nm) or solar was used. Pharmaceuticals were at high (1 mg L−1 each) relatively low (50 μg concentration, contributing 25% and 1.5% the initial TOC, respectively. Under both types radiation, photolysis SE generated reactive species capable degrading contaminants (indirect photolysis), this effect being greater lower concentration pollutants. Lower also favoured their degradation mineralization by photocatalytic oxidation, whereas its ozonation low. The best results obtained ozonation, especially in terms COD removal, without observing any synergism antagonism between O3/Radiation TiO2/Radiation systems. In performance catalyst resulted much better than that suspended P25, which showed almost no activity matrix. Through different cycles reuse, stability confirmed.