A LOW LIFE-CYCLE COST UV SOURCE AND REACTOR TO INITIATE THE OXIDATION OF DILUTE, AQUEOUS PHASE ORGANICS

THE OXIDATION OF DILUTE CONCNETRATIONS OF ORGANICS IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND/OR OZONE AS THE OXIDANT IN THE PRESENCE OF ULTRAVIOLET (UV) LIGHT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED AND IS OFFERED COMMERCIALLY BY SEVERAL CORPORATIONS. PRESENT SYSTEMS SEEM TO BE LIMITED TO LOW CONCENTRATIONS OR ORGANICS (<10 PPM), IF COSTS ARE TO BE MAINTAINED AT LESS THAN A FEW DOLLARS PER THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER TREATED. FURTHER, OXIDATION IS OFTEN NOT COMPLETE AND LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT ACIDS, ALDEHYDES, AND KETONES MAY REMAIN IN THE TREATED WATER AS FINAL OXIDATION PRODUCTS. IMPROVED PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTOR DESIGN USING LOW LIFE-CYCLE COST UV SSOURCES IS PROPOSED. THE REACTION SYSTEMS WILL EXPLOIT NEWLY DISCOVERED OXIDATION CHEMISTRY WHICH LEADS TO THE COMPLETE OXIDATION OF UNSATURATED ORGANICS IN AQUEOUS STREAMS.