Influence of organic matter on transformation processes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Holger Lutze
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426368743

Oxidation processes are used in water treatment for disinfection and pollutant control since several decades. In the past years oxidation techniques such as ozonation are also used in wastewater treatment for pollutant degradation. However, pollutants are not mineralized but form transformation products upon oxidation. The transformation processe are very complex and often investigated for pure water systems. However main matrix compounds of real waters such as natural organic matter (NOM) may have an effect on these transformation processes. One possibility is that reactive intermediates formed in these transformation processes may also react with NOM. Yet, influence of NOM on product formation is largely unknown. The present proposal is focusing on the reactions of NOM with reactive intermediates which could be formed in ozonation. The reactive interemediates under study are N-centered radicals which are formed in ozone and hydroxyl radical reactions.In the early phases of the present project reactions of reactive intermediates with model compounds will be investigated. These model compounds resemble typical functional groups of the organic matter such as phenolic compounds. Later more complex systems will be investigated such as humic acids or organic matter isolates. The proposal will improve the understanding of ozone based transformation processes in real waters and help to better assess if harmfull transformation products may be formed.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Torsten Schmidt