Evaluation of pilot-scale oxidation of several PPCPs/EDCs (pharmaceuticals and personal care products/endocrine disrupting compounds) during drinking water ozonation treatment

Several PPCPs/EDCs are being detected in surface drinking water sources, which is a great concern. The efficacy of ozonation in oxidizing 13 PPCPs/EDCs frequently detected in the Detroit River watershed was examined at pilot scale in the current study. Pilot-scale experiments were conducted at ozone dosages varying between 0.3 and 1.5 mg/L with the 13 PPCPs/ EDCs spiked in raw water obtained from the Detroit River. For 10 of the 13 PPCPs/EDCs with a high reaction rate with ozone (Group A), average oxidation efficiencies exceeded 95% for all ozone dosages at a contact time of 8.6 min. For chemicals with low to moderate reaction rate with molecular ozone (Group B), the observed oxidations were variable and ranged between 3 and 62% for ibuprofen and clorfibric acid and between 28 and >99% for bezafibrate under the same conditions. For the Group B chemicals, the oxidation increased with increasing ozone exposure and was significantly influenced by the quality of raw water.