Oxidation of aqueous N-nitrosodiethylamine: Experimental comparison of pulsed corona discharge with H2O2-assisted ozonation

Abstract

Abstract Hazardous nitrosamines formed in drinking water disinfection present serious public health and environmental concerns. Pulsed corona discharge (PCD) known for its unequaled energy efficiency in aqueous pollutants oxidation was experimentally compared with ozonation in degradation of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). Both methods were combined with H2O2 for advancement testing. In neutral media, PCD surpassed conventional ozonation for about twenty-nine times in energy efficiency; ozonation efficiency was substantially improved with H2O2 addition, whereas PCD did not benefit from it still surpassing O3/H2O2 combination for about 20% at pH 7.0. The Fenton-mediated oxidation was noticed in PCD accelerating oxidation of NDEA. The increase of pH to 12.0 predictably accelerated ozonation whereas PCD demonstrated the opposite outcome resulting in higher oxidation efficiency at pH 3.0.