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

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

Článek WoS

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 radical dotOH scavengers, the combined treatment effectively mitigated radical quenching. Residual chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) after GAC treatment was typically

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 radical dotOH scavengers, the combined treatment effectively mitigated radical quenching. Residual chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) after GAC treatment was typically

Advanced oxidation processes; UV/O3; Granular activated carbon; Gabapentin; Ibuprofen

Advanced oxidation processes; UV/O3; Granular activated carbon; Gabapentin; Ibuprofen

VASINKA, M.; KRNAVEK, B.; MACSEK, T.; VINKLAROVA, V.

01.12.2025

Journal of Water Process Engineering

80

Nizozemsko

1

20

20

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214714425021105#ec0005