Treatment of polyoxyethylated non-ionic surfactants by coagulation after irradiation of ionizing radiation

In recent years, the water pollution due to discharged surfactants becomes problem increasingly in environment preservation. The authors have forwarded the development of new processes utilizing radiation for the treatment of organic waste water. Attempt was made to treat the waste water containing polyoxyethylated non-ionic surfactants, which is difficult to treat with microorganism or by coagulation and settling. It was shown that first, by irradiating in nitrogen atmosphere and then by coagulation-settling, TOC (total organic carbon) can be removed effectively. In this process, through the chemical action of radiation, the organic compounds hardly decomposed can be converted to the substances permitting the treatment by ordinary means. Therefore the radiation energy can be efficiently utilized as compared with ordinary radiation oxidation-decomposition method. In this report, the results of experiment on the TOC removal by irradiation followed by coagulation-settling, the coagulation mechanism and the reaction characteristics are described. (J.P.N.)