The Chemistry of Water Treatment Processes Involving Ozone, Hydrogen Peroxide and Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract Advanced oxidation processes are defined as those which involve the generation of hydroxyl radicals in sufficient quantity to affect water purification. The theoretical and (practical yield of OH from O3 at high pH, 03/H202, O3/UV and H2O2/UV systems is reviewed. New data is presented which illustrates the importance of direct photolysis in the O3/UV process, the effect of the H202:03 ratio in the O3/H2O2 process, and the impact of the low extinction coefficient of H2O2 in the H202/UV process.