The high solubility and low volatility of methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) makes it difficult to treat when present at low levels (as in most groundwater supplies) using established technologies such as air stripping and activated carbon. Unlike the established transfer technologies (e.g., air stripping, activated carbon adsorption), advanced oxidation by ultraviolet (UV) light could potentially destroys MTBE and its by-products. As part of this study, extensive pilot and bench scale evaluation was performed to understand the effectiveness of MTBE and its by-products [e.g., tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) and tertiary butyl formate (TBF)] removal using UV/peroxide in ground and surface waters. The water quality matrix evaluated the impact of MTBE oxidation in the presence of other UV light absorbing compounds (e.g., nitrate) and radical scavengers (e.g., organics). These UV oxidation tests were conducted using both the medium-pressure (MP-UV) and low-pressure, high-output (LP-UV) lamps. Water quality impacts were also summarized using the energy requirement calculations. Based on the information gleaned from pilot testing, authors developed conceptual-level design and operational criteria. Conceptual-level capital and operational costs for full-scale systems were developed and presented.
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Research Article|
September 01 2008
Advanced oxidation of methyl-tertiary butyl ether: pilot study findings and full-scale implications
Sunil Kommineni;
1Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., Houston, Texas, USA
E-mail: skommineni@pirnie.com
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Zaid Chowdhury;
Zaid Chowdhury
2Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Michael Kavanaugh;
Michael Kavanaugh
3Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., Emeryville, California, USA
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Dhananjay Mishra;
Dhananjay Mishra
1Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., Houston, Texas, USA
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Jean-Philippe Crouè
Jean-Philippe Crouè
4LCEE/CNRS Université of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
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Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2008) 57 (6): 403–418.
Article history
Received:
September 16 2007
Accepted:
May 06 2008
Citation
Sunil Kommineni, Zaid Chowdhury, Michael Kavanaugh, Dhananjay Mishra, Jean-Philippe Crouè; Advanced oxidation of methyl-tertiary butyl ether: pilot study findings and full-scale implications. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 September 2008; 57 (6): 403–418. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2008.094
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