Removal of Organic Priority Pollutants by Oxidation‐Coagulation

Abstract

The oxidation of a group of priority pollutants with different chemical structures and properties by the use of ferrate is studied. A comparison is made of the coagulation‐flocculation of the oxidized pollutants by ferrate with alum coagulation using the jar test. The efficiency of removal of the pollutants by simple air and mechanical (paddle) flocculation is also studied. The pollutants studied are Bromodicloromethane (BDCM), trichloroethylene (TCE), 1, 2‐dichlorobenzene (DCB), nitrobenzene (NB), and naphthalene (NAPH). It is shown that purification of water supply by coagulation with potassium ferrate and stripping with gas removes four out of five wastes listed as priority pollutants. Only nitrobenzene is unaffected. A mathematical model utilizing dipole momentum, solubility parameter and log activity coefficient predicts the efficiency of the process.