Removal of humic substances by oxidation/biofiltration processes — A review

The paper is concerned principally with summarising the experience to-date of treating low alkalinity, low turbidity, humic-rich surface waters by the combination of ozone oxidation and biological filtration processes. In the UK, USA and other countries, upland coloured waters have often been treated by slow sand filtration in which only moderate removals of DOC have been achieved ( in-situ . The paper refers to the results of laboratory tests that have been carried out on the potential use of pre-ozonation followed by inorganic adsorbents (eg. Activated alumina, bauxite) for the removal of humic substances.