Traditionally, waste water has been treated using chlorine gas, but a new approach that uses ozone offers several benefits. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of ozone-based waste water treatment and take a closer look at how it works. Stay tuned!
Ozone Wastewater Treatment Applications
Ozone has many applications and is used in a variety of processes. The following are examples of common wastewater treatment applications that use ozone:
-Wastewater disinfection
-Sludge reduction
-Odor removal from wastewater
-Degradation of toxic substances
Ozone is an effective disinfection tool for sewage treatment and industrial processes, owing to its low cost and ease of implementation. Ozone is a more cost-effective solution than traditional treatment procedures that takes up less space and uses fewer chemicals.
Wastewater Disinfection
Ozone may be used to decontaminate wastewater, and it has the potential to eliminate or minimize chemicals that are added to water. Ozone is an extremely potent oxidizer that can effectively disinfect any water supply. The oxidation potential of ozone is greater than that of all other wastewater treatment chemicals combined.
The invention of ozone was first used to disinfect drinking water in 1906. (history of ozone usage) Ozone’s application in wastewater treatment didn’t become popular until the early 1970s. By 1984, there were 43 municipal wastewater treatment facilities in the United States using ozonation for purification. However, after 1985, when the cost of chlorine began to drop, efforts to implement ozonation at large municipal facilities came to a halt. This was mainly due to the low price of chlorine and the lack of water residual regulation.
In recent years, the use of ozonized water to disinfect wastewater has once again attracted attention. The cost-effectiveness and need for ozone are increasing due on three factors:
1. The cost of chemicals has risen dramatically in recent years. Handling, storage, and the raw chemical’s cost have all contributed to a high price for chlorine and even ozone. This has permitted ozone to grow more inexpensive as a result.
2. Regulations are getting more difficult to meet as a result of standard chemicals. In most every state in the country, and even across international borders, e.coli and coliform bacteria standards are being reduced. Add to this the fact that residual chlorine discharge limits have been lowered. Higher chemical usage is required for chlorine removal from water after disinfection under these conditions. These lower bacterial discharge limits, in addition to the presence of ozone, make it more cost-effective and possible for some treatment plants to use ozonation as their only option.
3. Micro-pollutants, or Endocrine Disruptous Chemicals (EDC), are becoming a major concern in rivers and lakes where sewage is dumped. In wastewater, only ozone or Advanced Oxidization Processes (AOP) have been found to be effective in removing these contaminants.
Ozone’s environmental benefits, as well as its cost savings, make it an appealing technology for most plants. To these primary reasons, consider that ozone is a green technology that can save energy and reduce water chemical residuals, and it appears to be quite attractive.
Considering all these factors, wastewater treatment facilities in both the municipal and industrial sectors have started investing in ozonation systems for wastewater decontamination.
Color Removal From Wastewater
Wastewater from dye manufacturing may be discolored. Ozone has been verified to be a powerful oxidant for removing color from any water source inexpensively and simply. Ozone is a fantastic choice for color removal in applications where wastewater has a significant degree of discoloration and is causing problems at the municipal sewage treatment lakes, rivers, or plant.
Sludge Reduction Using Ozone
Ozone has the ability to decrease overall sludge production from wastewater treatment plants. Ozone can also be used to treat sludge to improve dewaterability and degrade sludge in order to minimize overall sludge production.
Sludge management is one of the most expensive parts of operating a wastewater treatment facility. The sludge-handling and-dispersion process is costly, as is evident by the high price tag of sewage incineration in comparison to biological treatments. By utilizing ozone to lower overall sludge levels, costs may be reduced.
Many applications and strategies for introducing ozone into wastewater treatment have shown to be effective.
Odor Removal From Wastewater
Ozone is used all over the world for a variety of commercial and industrial purposes. The most common use of ozone worldwide is odor removal using ozonation. Ozone is commonly utilized in the home and commercial environment to eliminate odors from cigarettes, pets, and mildew. The same oxidation mechanism that allows ozone to be so effective in these situations may also be used for wastewater treatment and management.
The key purpose of a wastewater treatment plant is to reduce odors by removing organic pollutants from the water. WTPs are used in sewage treatment for many purposes, including odor reduction.
Ozone in the head-space of a wastewater lift station may be generated by forcing air mixed with ozone into this headspace.
In wastewater treatment facilities using aeration, ozone can be added to the aeration process. Because this air has a high solubility in water, much of the ozone will escape into the head space. The air escaping the procedure will not be odor-free.
There are a variety of innovative ways to apply ozone in wastewater treatment procedures. As cities expand and additional sewage plants are built near urban areas, odor has become an increasing worry.
Degradation of Toxic Substances
Ozone can oxidize any substance that is not completely oxidized. As a result, the majority of hazardous chemicals found in water may be destroyed by ozone without producing harmful chemical by-products.
Common toxic substances oxidized by ozone in water include:
- Olefins
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Ammonia
- Pentachlorophenol
- Phenol
- Benzene
- Cyanide
- Naphthalene
- Ethane
- Atrazine
- MTBE
- Toluene
Conclusion
Ozonation is an effective wastewater treatment process that can be used to disinfect and decompose organic matter in wastewater. It is a cost-effective and efficient method that produces little waste compared to other methods such as chlorination. Ozonation has been shown to be an effective way to reduce the amount of pathogens present in water, making it safe for release back into the environment.
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