Evaluation of advanced oxidation processes for water and wastewater treatment – A critical review

This study provides an overview of established processes as well as recent progress in emerging technologies for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). In addition to a discussion of major reaction mechanisms and formation of by-products, data on energy efficiency were collected in an extensive analysis of studies reported in the peer-reviewed literature enabling a critical comparison of various established and emerging AOPs based on electrical energy per order (E_EO) values. Despite strong variations within reviewed E_EO values, significant differences could be observed between three groups of AOPs: (1) O₃ (often considered as AOP-like process), O₃/H₂O₂, O₃/UV, UV/H₂O₂, UV/persulfate, UV/chlorine, and electron beam represent median E_EO values of <1 kWh/m³, while median energy consumption by (2) photo-Fenton, plasma, and electrolytic AOPs were significantly higher (E_EO values in the range of 1–100 kWh/m³). (3) UV-based photocatalysis, ultrasound, and microwave-based AOPs are characterized by median values of >100 kWh/m³ and were therefore considered as not (yet) energy efficient AOPs. Specific evaluation of 147 data points for the UV/H₂O₂ process revealed strong effects of operational conditions on reported E_EO values. Besides water type and quality, a major influence was observed for process capacity (lab-vs. pilot-vs. full-scale applications) and, in case of UV-based processes, of the lamp type. However, due to the contribution of other factors, correlation of E_EO values with specific water quality parameters such as UV absorbance and dissolved organic carbon were not substantial. Also, correlations between E_EO and compound reactivity with OH-radicals were not significant (photolytically active compounds were not considered). Based on these findings, recommendations regarding the use of the E_EO concept, including the upscaling of laboratory results, were derived.