The synergistic effect of advanced oxidation processes to eliminate resistant chemical compounds

The aim of this work is the study of application of the synergistic effects of various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in waste water treatment. Attention is paid to decomposition of chemical compounds resistant to biodegradation. These chemical compounds are commonly based on pharmaceutical products, pesticides, surfactants and dyes. In our contribution, the synergistic effect of simultaneously applied photocatalyst and low temperature atmospheric plasma or UV light on decomposition of model chemicals (Acid Orange 7, Hydrocortisone, Verapamil hydrochloride) was studied. TiO2 was used as the photocatalyst. Model chemicals with photocatalytic active TiO2 were exposed to atmospheric plasma discharge (Gliding Arc) or UV source in order to improve generation of active hydroxyl groups and oxidation processes. The relations between different effects of AOPs during chemicals decomposition process were analyzed. It was observed that decomposition of model chemicals is strongly improved by synergistic effect of: (i) photocatalytic reaction occurring on photocatalyst TiO2, (ii) presence of oxidative radicals, (iii) presence of wide-range UV. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.