Comparison Between Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Technologies for Wastewater Remediation

A study on the decomposition of a surfactant (SDBS) and of four emerging pollutants (ofloxacin, carbamazepine, benzophenone-3, benzophenenone-4) in a multicomponent system is presented. These pollutants are decomposed in water by a few types of Advanced Oxidation Processes. The remediation methods included UV and γ-rays, all running in atmospheric conditions. It is shown that UV degradation methods can be improved by adding a photocatalyst (TiO2), or a radical mediator (H2O2). The processes were monitored step by step, by determining the concentration of pollutants by UV, HPLC and a specific surfactant selective kit, and measuring the total organic carbon content. (author)