Photocatalytic Degradation of Algal Organic Matter Using TiO2/UV and Persulfate/UV

Eutrophication in water reservoirs releases algal organic matter (AOM), a key precursor to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during the disinfection process. Typical drinking water treatment is not efficient for AOM removal, and advanced treatments are necessary for the removal of residual AOM before chlorination. UV-based technology with PS and TiO2 is widely used as a pre-oxidation step in water treatment; however, no publications have focused on them for AOM degradation. In this context, this work investigated the effect of oxidant concentration (0.1 to 0.5 g∙L−1) and pH (6 to 10) on AOM degradation with TiO2/UV and persulfate (PS)/UV using response surface methodology. In general, PS/UV was more effective in removing protein, while TiO2/UV was more effective in carbohydrate degradation. TiO2/UV removals varied from 27 to 57% for protein and from 48 to 86% for carbohydrates. The optimal condition (57% for protein and 86% for carbohydrates) was obtained using 0.5 g∙L−1 TiO2 at pH 10. PS/UV removals varied from 33 to 81% for protein and from 24 to 53% for carbohydrates. The optimal condition (81% for protein and 53% for carbohydrates) was obtained using 0.5 g∙L−1 PS concentration at pH 8. Degradation kinetics showed a good fit to the pseudo-first-order model (R2 > 95%) for both processes. The DBP formation reductions observed with TiO2/UV—trihalomethane (THM) (85 to 86%) and chloral hydrate (CH) (94 to 96%)—were similar to the efficiencies observed for PS/UV—THM (87 to 89%) and CH (83 to 88%). These results show the efficiency of UV-based technology for AOM degradation and the control of DBP formation.