Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a coking wastewater treatment plant residual by an O3/ultraviolet fluidized bed reactor

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coking wastewater treatment plant (CWWTP) represents a typical point source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the water environment and threatens the safety of drinking water in downstream regions. To enhance the removal of residual PAHs from bio-treated coking wastewater, a pilot-scale O3/ultraviolet (UV) fluidized bed reactor (O3/UV FBR) was designed and different operating factors including UV irradiation intensity, pH, initial concentration, contact time, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) were investigated at an ozone level of 240 g h−1 and 25 ± 3 °C. A health risk evaluation and cost analysis were also carried out under the continuous-flow mode. As far as we know, this is the first time an O3/UV FBR has been explored for PAHs treatment. The results indicated that between 41 and 75 % of 18 target PAHs were removed in O3/UV FBR due to synergistic effects of UV irradiation. Both increased reaction time and increased pH were beneficial for the removal of PAHs. The degradation of the target PAHs within 8 h can be well fitted by the pseudo-first-order kinetics (R 2 > 0.920). The reaction rate was also positively correlated with the initial concentrations of PAHs. The health risk assessment showed that the total amount of carcinogenic substance exposure to surface water was reduced by 0.432 g day−1. The economic analysis showed that the O3/UV FBR was able to remove 18 target PAHs at a cost of US$0.34 m−3. These results suggest that O3/UV FBR is efficient in removing residuals from CWWTP, thus reducing the accumulation of persistent pollutant released to surface water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albinet A, Leoz-Garziandia E, Budzinski H, ViIlenave E (2007) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated PAHs and oxygenated PAHs in ambient air of the Marseilles area (South of France): concentrations and sources. Sci Total Environ 384:280–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong B, Hutchinson E, Unwin J, Fletcher T (2004) Lung cancer risk after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a review and meta-analysis. Environ Health Persp 112:970

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen S, Liao C (2006) Health risk assessment on human exposed to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution sources. Sci Total Environ 366:112–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Sheng G, Bi X, Feng Y, Mai B, Fu J (2005) Emission factors for carbonaceous particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from residential coal combustion in China. Environ Sci Technol 39:1861–1867

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu C, Chen Y, Huang Y (2007) Removal of naphthalene in Brij 30-containing solution by ozonation using rotating packed bed. J Hazard Mater 147:732–737

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi Y, Hong A (2007) Ozonation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in hexane and water: identification of intermediates and pathway. Korean J Chem Eng 24:1003–1008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chu SN, Sands S, Tomasik MR, Lee PS, McNeill VF (2010) Ozone oxidation of surface-adsorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: role of PAH−surface interaction. J Am Chem Soc 132:15968–15975

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrarese E, Andreottola G, Oprea IA (2008) Remediation of PAH-contaminated sediments by chemical oxidation. J Hazard Mater 152:128–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frontistis Z, Daskalaki VM, Hapeshi E, Drosou C, Fatta-Kassinos D, Xekoukoulotakis NP, Mantzavinos D (2012) Photocatalytic (UV-A/TiO2) degradation of 17α-ethynylestradiol in environmental matrices: experimental studies and artificial neural network modeling. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 240:33–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidalgo MD, Garcıa-Encina PA (2002) Biofilm development and bed segregation in a methanogenic fluidized bed reactor. Water Res 36:3083–3091

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hong PA, Chao J (2004) A polar-nonpolar, acetic acid/heptane, solvent medium for degradation of pyrene by ozone. Ind Eng Chem Res 43:7710–7715

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Ziółek M, Nawrocki J (2003) Catalytic ozonation and methods of enhancing molecular ozone reactions in water treatment. Appl Catal B Environ 46:639–669

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kornmüller A, Wiesmann U (2003) Ozonation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in oil/water-emulsions: mass transfer and reaction kinetics. Water Res 37:1023–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kriek E, Rojas M, Alexandrov K, Bartsch H (1998) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts in humans: relevance as biomarkers for exposure and cancer risk. Mutat Res/Fundam and Mol Mech Mutagen 400:215–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kwamena NA, Clarke JP, Kahan TF, Diamond ML, Donaldson DJ (2007) Assessing the importance of heterogeneous reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmosphere using the Multimedia Urban Model. Atmos Environ 41:37–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luster-Teasley S, Ubaka-Blackmoore N, Masten SJ (2009) Evaluation of soil pH and moisture content on in-situ ozonation of pyrene in soils. J Hazard Mater 167:701–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma J, Horii Y, Cheng J, Wang W, Wu Q, Ohura T, Kannan K (2009) Chlorinated and parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental samples from an electronic waste recycling facility and a chemical industrial complex in China. Environ Sci Technol 43:643–649

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maier M, Maier D, Lloyd BJ (2000) Factors influencing the mobilisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the coal-tar lining of water mains. Water Res 34:773–786

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manariotis ID, Karapanagioti HK, Chrysikopoulos CV (2011) Degradation of PAHs by high frequency ultrasound. Water Res 45:2587–2594

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JS, Olejnik D (2001) Photolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water. Water Res 35:233–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murakami M, Nakajima F, Furumai H (2004) Modelling of runoff behaviour of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from roads and roofs. Water Res 38:4475–4483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petry T, Schmid P, Schlatter C (1996) The use of toxic equivalency factors in assessing occupational and environmental health risk associated with exposure to airborne mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Chemosphere 32:639–648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas FJ, Beltrán FJ, Gimeno O, Carbajo M (2006) Fluorene oxidation by coupling of ozone, radiation, and semiconductors: a mathematical approach to the kinetics. Ind Eng Chem Res 45:166–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas J, Gimeno O, De la Calle RG, Beltrán FJ (2009) Ozone treatment of PAH contaminated soils: operating variables effect. J Hazard Mater 169:509–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SEPA (2002) Water and wastewater monitoring methods. Chinese Environmental Science Publishing House, Beijing

  • Shemer H, Linden KG (2007) Aqueous photodegradation and toxicity of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons fluorene, dibenzofuran, and dibenzothiophene. Water Res 41:853–861

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staehelin J, Hoigne J (1982) Decomposition of ozone in water: rate of initiation by hydroxide ions and hydrogen peroxide. Environ Sci Technol 16:676–681

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staehelin J, Hoigne J (1985) Decomposition of ozone in water in the presence of organic solutes acting as promoters and inhibitors of radical chain reactions. Environ Sci Technol 19:1206–1213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strickland P, Kang D, Sithisarankul P (1996) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in urine as biomarkers of exposure and effect. Environ Health Persp 104:927

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Li X, Yang Y, Coveney RM, Lu X, Chen H, Shen W (2006) Dispersion modeling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from combustion of biomass and fossil fuels and production of coke in Tianjin, China. Environ Sci Technol 40:4586–4591

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai P, Shieh H, Lee W, Lai S (2001) Health-risk assessment for workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a carbon black manufacturing industry. Sci Total Environ 278:137–150

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vila-Escalé M, Vegas-Vilarrúbia T, Prat N (2007) Release of polycyclic aromatic compounds into a Mediterranean creek (Catalonia, NE Spain) after a forest fire. Water Res 41:2171–2179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogelsang C, Grung M, Jantsch TG, Tollefsen KE, Liltved H (2006) Occurrence and removal of selected organic micropollutants at mechanical, chemical and advanced wastewater treatment plants in Norway. Water Res 40:3559–3570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang K, Shen Y, Zhang S, Ye Y, Shen Q, Hu J, Wang X (2009) Application of spatial analysis and multivariate analysis techniques in distribution and source study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the topsoil of Beijing, China. Environ Geol 56:1041–1050

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei C, Bo X, Xiao H (2000) Hydrodynamics in an internal loop airlift reactor with a convergence-divergence draft tube. Chem Eng Technol 1:38–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wols BA, Hofman-Caris C (2012) Review of photochemical reaction constants of organic micropollutants required for UV advanced oxidation processes in water. Water Res 46:2815–2827

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woo OT, Chung WK, Wong KH, Chow AT, Wong PK (2009) Photocatalytic oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Intermediates identification and toxicity testing. J Hazard Mater 168:1192–1199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu S, Liu W, Tao S (2006) Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in China. Environ Sci Technol 40:702–708

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang B, Zhang Y, Meng J, Gan J, Shu J (2010) Heterogeneous reactivity of suspended pirimiphos-methyl particles with ozone. Environ Sci Technol 44:3311–3316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Tao S, Cao J, Coveney RM (2007) Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in China by county. Environ Sci Technol 41:683–687

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Wei C, Feng C, Zhu J (2012a) A novel airlift reactor enhanced by funnel internals and hydrodynamics prediction by the CFD method. BioresourTechnol 104:600–607

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Wei C, Chai X, He J, Cai Y, Ren M, Yan B, Peng P, Fu J (2012b) The behaviors and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a coking wastewater treatment plant. Chemosphere 88:174–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (21037001); Research Project of Production, Education and Research of Guangdong Province, China (2012B091100450) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2013ZP0009).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Chong Lin, Mengyang Yuan, Chunhua Feng, Yuan Ren & Chaohai Wei

  2. Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Wanhui Zhang & Chaohai Wei

Authors
  1. Chong Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wanhui Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mengyang Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chunhua Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yuan Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chaohai Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chaohai Wei.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOC 5272 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lin, C., Zhang, W., Yuan, M. et al. Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a coking wastewater treatment plant residual by an O3/ultraviolet fluidized bed reactor. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 10329–10338 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3034-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3034-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation