Pilot-scale evaluation of UV/O3 oxidation, UV irradiation, and GAC filtration for removal of gabapentin and ibuprofen and impacts on selected physicochemical properties of treated wastewater

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F26788462%3A_____%2F25%3AN0000011" target="_blank" >RIV/26788462:_____/25:N0000011 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/26788462:_____/25:N0000012

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214714425021105" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214714425021105</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.109037" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.109037</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Pilot-scale evaluation of UV/O3 oxidation, UV irradiation, and GAC filtration for removal of gabapentin and ibuprofen and impacts on selected physicochemical properties of treated wastewater

Original language description

This study evaluates the pilot-scale performance of a combined tertiary wastewater treatment system integrating ozone-based UV oxidation (UV/O3), secondary UV irradiation, and granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration at the Moravský Beroun WWTP. The novelty lies in assessing the influence of high-rate (100%) internal recirculation on pharmaceutical removal and evaluating treatment effects on wastewater ion composition and trace element speciation. The full treatment sequence (UV/O3 → UV → GAC) achieved >99 % removal of gabapentin (GAB) and ibuprofen (IBU). Standalone UV/O3 removed 69.7 % of GAB and 92.2 % of IBU at the highest ozone dose (16.7 g O3/m3), whereas high-rate recirculation reduced oxidative treatment efficiency (GAB 28.8–36.7 %, IBU 45.4–69.6 %) due to increased pharmaceutical mass flux and lower oxidant availability. Secondary UV irradiation provided an additional 11–40 % removal, and GAC consistently ensured >99 % total removal. Despite high bicarbonate concentrations acting as ·OH scavengers, the combined treatment effectively mitigated radical quenching. Residual chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) after GAC treatment was typically <3 mg/L, indicating effective removal of remaining organic intermediates. Importantly, all treatments preserved wastewater’s oxidative and slightly alkaline character (Eh 368–500 mV; pH 7.44–7.63), maintained major ion composition (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3−, SO42−) and conserved trace element speciation (Fe(OH)3, Mn2+, Zn2+, PbCO3, CrO42−, Ni2+). Cost analysis confirmed that ozone generation dominates operational expenses, whereas secondary UV and GAC contribute minimally. Overall, the results demonstrate robust pharmaceutical removal while maintaining effluent water chemistry, providing new insights for pilot-scale optimization.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20701 - Environmental and geological engineering, geotechnics

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Water Process Engineering

ISSN

2214-7144

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

80

Issue of the periodical within the volume

109037

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

20

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001620122300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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