Color removal and disinfection with UV/H₂O₂ system for wastewater reclamation and reuse

Reuse of wastewater effluents from secondary treatment processes in municipal wastewater treatment plants has been issued because of substantial volumes of relatively clean waters. The major components of criteria for wastewater reclamations are color, organic matter, and pathogens. An advanced oxidation process with low-pressure ultraviolet and hydrogen peroxide addition (UV/H₂O₂ system) has been employed for removal of the major components in the criteria for reuse of wastewater. Sand filter pretreatment was applied to remove turbidity and to improve performance of UV irradiation. The results showed that total coliforms were effectively inactivated by the UV irradiation alone with the contact time of 30 minutes but color was remained. The addition of H₂O₂ significantly improved the removal of color and dissolved organic matter in the same contact time.