Performic acid, or PFA (CH2O3), is a well-known oxidizing agent and disinfectant in the medical field and food industry. It has recently become available on a commercial scale for potential use in wastewater disinfection. This study investigated its application to an advanced primary effluent which is recalcitrant to disinfection by UV and peracetic acid (PAA). Methods were developed for determining PFA concentrations in stock solutions as well as in residual concentrations in the wastewater. Batch and continuous-flow pilot studies showed a correlation between log fecal coliform removals and PFA doses. A PFA dose of approximately 3.4 mg/L and a contact time of 45 minutes could achieve 3-logs removal, and almost total disinfection could be achieved using a dose of 6 mg/L. The by-products of PFA addition are hydrogen peroxide and formic acid (CHOOH), neither of which is considered to be toxic to aquatic fauna at the doses required for disinfection.
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Research Article|
January 01 2009
Performic acid (PFA): tests on an advanced primary effluent show promising disinfection performance
R. Gehr;
1Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2K6 Canada
E-mail: ronald.gehr@mcgill.ca
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D. Chen;
D. Chen
2Kemira Water Solutions Canada, Inc., 3405 Blvd. Marie-Victorin, Varennes, Quebec, QC J3X 1T6 Canada
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M. Moreau
M. Moreau
2Kemira Water Solutions Canada, Inc., 3405 Blvd. Marie-Victorin, Varennes, Quebec, QC J3X 1T6 Canada
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Water Sci Technol (2009) 59 (1): 89–96.
Citation
R. Gehr, D. Chen, M. Moreau; Performic acid (PFA): tests on an advanced primary effluent show promising disinfection performance. Water Sci Technol 1 January 2009; 59 (1): 89–96. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2009.761
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