Production of photo-oxidants by dissolved organic matter during UV water treatment

Photolysis of p-phenylenediamine rubber antioxidants in aqueous environment: Kinetics, pathways and their photo-induced toxicity

The widespread use of rubber antioxidants, especially p-phenylenediamines (PPDs), has raised increasing concerns about their risk assessment. However, there is a notable lack of research on their transformation products (TPs). Photolysis, influenced by active components, plays a significant role in the environmental fates of PPDs. This study investigated four emerging PPDs (N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), N, N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (IPPD), and N-cyclohexyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (CPPD)) through a combination of experiments (photolysis kinetics, quenching experiments, acute toxicity test to Vibrio Fischeri (V. fischeri) and identification of photolytic products) and theoretical calculations. The results revealed different pathways for indirect photolysis mediated by the hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2) of DPPD and IPPD under simulated sunlight irradiation. The effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and fulvic acid (FA) on the rates of photolysis of PPDs highlighted the complex interactions among the molecular structure, light absorption properties, and environmental variables. Quenching for reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduced photo-induced toxicity, whereas the addition of DOM and FA increased it, suggesting the crucial role of ROS in the formation of more toxic photolytic products. The study of photolysis pathways and the evaluation of the health risks provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental effects of these pollutants.

Critical review of fluorescence and absorbance measurements as surrogates for the molecular weight and aromaticity of dissolved organic matter

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is ubiquitous in aquatic environments and challenging to characterize due to its heterogeneity. Optical measurements (i.e., absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy) are popular characterization tools, because they are non-destructive, require small sample volumes, and are relatively inexpensive and more accessible compared to other techniques (e.g., high resolution mass spectrometry). To make inferences about DOM chemistry, optical surrogates have been derived from absorbance and fluorescence spectra to describe differences in spectral shape (e.g., E2:E3 ratio, spectral slope, fluorescence indices) or quantify carbon-normalized optical responses (e.g., specific absorbance (SUVA) or specific fluorescence intensity (SFI)). The most common interpretations relate these optical surrogates to DOM molecular weight or aromaticity. This critical review traces the genesis of each of these interpretations and, to the extent possible, discusses additional lines of evidence that have been developed since their inception using datasets comparing diverse DOM sources or strategic endmembers. This review draws several conclusions. More caution is needed to avoid presenting surrogates as specific to either molecular weight or aromaticity, as these physicochemical characteristics are often correlated or interdependent. Many surrogates are proposed using narrow contexts, such as fractionation of a limited number of samples or dependence on isolates. Further study is needed to determine if interpretations are generalizable to whole-waters. Lastly, there is a broad opportunity to identify why endmembers with low abundance of aromatic carbon (e.g., effluent organic matter, Antarctic lakes) often do not follow systematic trends with molecular weight or aromaticity as observed in endmembers from terrestrial environments with higher plant inputs.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination of drinking water sources in Africa: Pollution sources and possible treatment methods

Despite the detection of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in the water system in Africa, the effort towards mitigating PFAS in water in Africa needs to be better understood. Therefore, this review evaluated the contamination status and mitigation methods for handling PFAS-contaminated water systems in Africa. The findings revealed the presence of PFAS in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, surface water and commercially available bottled and tap water in African countries. The concentration of PFAS in drinking water sources reviewed ranged from < limits of quantification to 778 ng L-1. The sources of PFAS in water systems in Africa are linked to uncontrolled importation of PFAS-containing products, WWTP effluents and inappropriate disposal of PFAS-containing materials. The information on treatment methods for PFAS-contaminated water systems is scanty. Unfortunately, the treatment method is challenged by poor water research infrastructure and facilities, lack of awareness, poor research funding and weak legislation; however, adsorption and membrane technology seem favourable for removing PFAS from water systems in Africa. It is essential to focus on monitoring and assessing drinking water quality in Africa to reduce the disease burden that this may cause. Most African countries' currently implemented water treatment facilities cannot efficiently remove PFAS during treatment. Therefore, governments in Africa need to fund more research to develop an efficient water treatment technique that is sustainable in Africa.

Photo-assisted conversion of tetracycline in regulated persulfate system: Multiple roles of natural dissolved organic matter

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) using persulfate system can effectively remove organic pollutants. However, dissolved organic matter (DOM) has multiple effects on AOPs efficiency, and the influence of DOMs from natural sources on AOPs is still unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of soil DOM (SDOM) and fertilizer DOM (FDOM) on tetracycline (TC) removal by persulfate systems. DOMs introduction decreased light transmittance, slightly increased the pH of the systems, and destroyed original adsorption-desorption equilibrium. SDOM promoted most reactive species generation in the initial stage, thus improving the initial TC degradation rate. However, introduction of SDOM and FDOM increased the final TC residual rate. FDOM produced more obvious inhibitory effects on TC degradation. The final TC residual rates in systems containing 7.5 and 15 mg L-1 FDOM (F7.5-TC-PS and F15-TC-PS, respectively) were 25.85 % and 25.52 %, respectively. The inhibitory effects of FDOM on TC degradation were related to the combination between TC and FDOM, with humic acid-like component in FDOM being the main contributor. Besides, the main components in DOMs underwent transformation in the persulfate systems. This study sought to provide insights into the regulatory effects of DOM on TC photo-assisted conversion by AOPs.

Application of UV LEDs to inactivate antibiotic resistant bacteria: Kinetics, efficiencies, and reactivations

Unregulated antibiotic use has led to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in aquatic environments. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) have evolved as an innovative technology for inactivating microorganisms offering several advantages over traditional mercury lamps. This research concentrated on utilizing UV LEDs with three distinct wavelengths (265 nm, 275 nm, and 285 nm) to inactivate E. coli DH10β encoding the ampicillin-resistant blaTEM-1 gene in its plasmid. Non-linear models, such as Geeraerd's and Weibull, provided more accurate characterization of the inactivation profiles than the traditional log-linear model due to the incorporation of both biological mechanisms and a deterministic approach within non-linear models. The inactivation rates of ARB were higher than antibiotic-sensitive bacteria (ASB) when subjected to UV LEDs. The highest inactivation rates were observed when all microorganisms were exposed to 265 nm. Photoreactivation emerged as the primary mechanism responsible for repairing DNA damage induced by UV LEDs. 285 nm showed the highest reactivation efficiencies for ARB under different fluences. At higher fluences, both 265 and 275 nm displayed similar effectiveness in suppressing reactivation, while at lower fluences, 275 nm exhibited better efficacies in controlling the reactivation. Therefore, the inhibition of reactivation was influenced by the extent of damage incurred to both DNA and enzymes. In nutrient-poor media (0.9 % NaCl), ASB did not exhibit any reactivation potential. However, the addition of Luria-Bertani (LB) broth promoted the reactivation of ASB. Lower fluence rate was more beneficial at 265 nm whereas higher fluence rates were more effective for longer wavelengths. The inactivation of ARB was enhanced by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at low fluences. However, the removal of ARB was reduced due to the presence of DOC at higher fluences. The highest energy demand for ARB inactivation was reported at 285 nm. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: The excessive and unregulated utilization of antibiotics has emerged as a significant issue for public health. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of UV LEDs, an emerging technology, in the inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). This research paper explores the kinetics of UV LEDs with different wavelengths to inactivate ARB along with the reactivation efficiencies. This research work also explores the impact and relevant mechanisms of the impact of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on the inactivation of ARB by UV LEDs.

Vacuum-ultraviolet based advanced oxidation and reduction processes for water treatment

The use of vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) photolysis in water treatment has been gaining significant interest due to its efficacy in degrading refractory organic contaminants and eliminating oxyanions. In recent years, the reactive species driving pollutant decomposition in VUV-based advanced oxidation and reduction processes (VUV-AOPs and VUV-ARPs) have been identified. This review aims to provide a concise overview of VUV photolysis and its advancements in water treatment. We begin with an introduction to VUV irradiation, followed by a summary of the primary reactive species in both VUV-AOPs and VUV-ARPs. We then explore the factors influencing VUV-photolysis in water treatment, including VUV irradiation dose, catalysts or activators, dissolved gases, water matrix components (e.g., DOM and inorganic anions), and solution pH. In VUV-AOPs, the predominant reactive species are hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and ozone (O3). Conversely, in VUV-ARPs, the main reactive species are the hydrated electron (eaq-) and hydrogen atom (˙H). It is worth noting that VUV-based advanced oxidation/reduction processes (VUV-AORPs) can transit between VUV-AOPs and VUV-ARPs based on the externally added chemicals and dissolved gases in the solution. Increase of the VUV irradiation dose and the concentration of catalysts/activators enhances the degradation of contaminants, whereas DOM and inorganic anions inhibit the reaction. The pH influences the redox potential of ˙OH, the speciation of contaminants and activators, and thus the overall performance of the VUV-AOPs. Conversely, an alkaline pH is favored in VUV-ARPs because eaq- predominates at higher pH.

Development of dissolved organic matter-based indicators to understand the degradation of organic contaminants in reverse osmosis concentrate from potable reuse systems

Reverse osmosis (RO)-based treatment of municipal wastewater effluent allows for potable reuse, but this process generates reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) that needs further treatment before disposal. This study investigated the application of UV-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to degrade nine contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) from real ROC waste streams, using UV-only and UV-AOPs with hydrogen peroxide, free chlorine, and persulfate. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in ROC was characterized using fluorescence excitation emission matrix data and analyzed by a four-component parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis model. UV-only treatment showed considerable removal of CECs that displayed high values of quantum yields and molar absorption coefficients. UV-AOP treatment of ROC exhibited heavy scavenging of reactive species during CEC degradation. A probe-based approach established that hydroxyl radical was the dominant reactive species in all UV-AOPs. A kinetic analysis of PARAFAC components of DOM showed that the visible humic-like and protein-like components exhibited the higher reaction kinetics compared to UV humic-like and nutrient-like components. The strong linear correlation of protein-like component and seven of the nine CECs across multiple AOPs indicated that they have similar reactivity, enabling the establishment of chemical-reactivity based surrogates for prediction CEC fate in ROC wastes.

Treatment of Organics in Wastewater Using Electrogenerated Gaseous Oxidants

This work focuses on the comparison of the performance of direct electrochemical oxidation with indirect electrolysis mediated by gaseous oxidants in the treatment of diluted wastewater. To do this, energy consumptions of the electrolysis using mixed metal oxide (MMO) electrodes are compared with those required for the production and use of chlorine dioxide in the degradation of methomyl contained in aqueous solutions. Results demonstrate the feasibility of the mediated oxidation process and that this process is competitive with direct oxidation. The oxidants are produced under optimized conditions using the same anodic material applied for the direct degradation of organics, thus avoiding efficiency losses associated with mass transfer limitations in the degradation of dilute organic solutions. Thus, using the ClO2 gaseous oxidant, a concentration of 0.1 mM of methomyl from a solution containing 500 mL is completely removed with an energy consumption as low as 50 Wh. The application of the same energy to a direct electrolytic process for treating the same wastewater can only reach less than half of this removal. These findings may have a very important application in the use of electrochemical technology to achieve the remediation of persistent pollutants in wastewater, where their low concentrations typically make direct processes very inefficient.

Far-UVC Photolysis of Peroxydisulfate for Micropollutant Degradation in Water

Increasing radical yields to reduce UV fluence requirement for achieving targeted removal of micropollutants in water would make UV-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) less energy demanding in the context of United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and carbon neutrality. We herein demonstrate that, by switching the UV radiation source from conventional low-pressure UV at 254 nm (UV254) to emerging Far-UVC at 222 nm (UV222), the fluence-based concentration of HO• in the UV/peroxydisulfate (UV/PDS) AOP increases by 6.40, 2.89, and 6.00 times in deionized water, tap water, and surface water, respectively, with increases in the fluence-based concentration of SO4•- also by 5.06, 5.81, and 55.47 times, respectively. The enhancement to radical generation is confirmed using a kinetic model. The pseudo-first-order degradation rate constants of 16 micropollutants by the UV222/PDS AOP in surface water are predicted to be 1.94-13.71 times higher than those by the UV254/PDS AOP. Among the tested water matrix components, chloride and nitrate decrease SO4•- but increase HO• concentration in the UV222/PDS AOP. Compared to the UV254/PDS AOP, the UV222/PDS AOP decreases the formation potentials of carbonaceous disinfection byproducts (DBPs) but increases the formation potentials of nitrogenous DBPs.

Elucidating the inhibitory effects of natural organic matter on the photodegradation of organic micropollutants: Atrazine as a probe compound

Natural organic matter (NOM) is a complex mixture of heterogeneous compounds with varying functional groups and molecular sizes. Understanding the impact of NOM on the generation of photochemically produced reactive intermediates (PPRIs) and their potential inhibitory effects on photolysis has remained challenging due to the variations in the reactivities and concentrations of these functional groups. To address this gap, tannic acid (TA), gallic acid (GA), catechin (CAT), and tryptophan (Trp), were chosen as potential substitutes for NOM. Their effects on the photochemical transformation process were evaluated and compared with the widely used Suwannee River NOM (SRNOM). Atrazine (ATZ) was selected as a probe organic micropollutant (OMP). In this investigation, a significantly higher concentration of HO• was observed compared to O21, and the triplet excited state ( NOM*3). The findings suggest that the substituted phenols, particularly those with carboxylate-substitutions, played a substantial role in HO• formation, while electron-rich moieties acted as antioxidants, consuming NOM*3. Hydroxyl, carboxylic, and amino acid were the active groups for O21 formation. However, the inhibitory effects induced by the NOM surrogates were significant and mainly attributed to the direct photolysis inhibition caused by the inner filter effect. The scope of this work was further extended to include SRNOM, where similar trends with less pronounced formation of PPRIs and inner filter effects were observed. Therefore, this study sheds some light on the role of the functional groups in NOM during photochemical transformations of OMPs, thereby deepening our understanding of their fate in aqueous systems.

Chemical-free vacuum ultraviolet irradiation as ultrafiltration membrane pretreatment technique: Performance, mechanisms and DBPs formation

Membrane fouling induced by natural organic matter (NOM) has seriously affected the further extensive application of ultrafiltration (UF). Herein, a simple, green and robust vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) technology was adopted as pretreatment before UF and ultraviolet (UV) technology was used for comparison. The results showed that control effect of VUV pretreatment on membrane fouling was better than that of UV pretreatment, as evidenced by the increase of normalized flux from 0.27 to 0.38 and 0.73 after 30 min UV or VUV pretreatment, respectively. This is related to the fact that VUV pretreatment exhibited stronger NOM degradation ability than UV pretreatment owing to the formation of HO•. The steady-state concentration of HO• was calculated as 3.04 × 10-13 M and the cumulative exposure of HO• reached 5.52 × 10-10 M s after 30 min of VUV irradiation. And the second-order rate constant between NOM and HO• was determined as 1.36 × 104 L mg-1 s-1. Furthermore, fluorescence EEM could be applied to predict membrane fouling induced by humic-enriched water. Standard blocking and cake filtration were major fouling mechanisms. Moreover, extension of UV pretreatment time increased the disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation, the DBPs concentration was enhanced from 322.36 to 1187.80 μg/L after 210 min pretreatment. However, VUV pretreatment for 150 min reduced DBPs content to 282.57 μg/L, and DBPs content continued to decrease with the extension of pretreatment time, revealing that VUV pretreatment achieved effective control of DBPs. The variation trend of cytotoxicity and health risk of DBPs was similar to that of DBPs concentration. In summary, VUV pretreatment exhibited excellent effect on membrane fouling alleviation, NOM degradation and DBPs control under a certain pretreatment time.

Accelerated Ultraviolet Treatment of Carbamazepine and NDMA in Water under 222 nm Irradiation

Krypton chloride (KrCl*) excimer ultraviolet (UV) light may provide advantages for contaminant degradation compared to conventional low-pressure (LP) UV. Direct and indirect photolysis as well as UV/hydrogen peroxide-driven advanced oxidation (AOP) of two chemical contaminants were investigated in laboratory grade water (LGW) and treated secondary effluent (SE) for LPUV and filtered KrCl* excimer lamps emitting at 254 and 222 nm, respectively. Carbamazepine (CBZ) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were chosen because of their unique molar absorption coefficient profiles, quantum yields (QYs) at 254 nm, and reaction rate constants with hydroxyl radical. Quantum yields and molar absorption coefficients at 222 nm for both CBZ and NDMA were determined, with measured molar absorption coefficients of 26 422 and 8170 M-1 cm-1, respectively, and QYs of 1.95 × 10-2 and 6.68 × 10-1 mol Einstein-1, respectively. The 222 nm irradiation of CBZ in SE improved degradation compared to that in LGW, likely through promotion of in situ radical formation. AOP conditions improved degradation of CBZ in LGW for both UV LP and KrCl* sources but did not improve NDMA decay. In SE, photolysis of CBZ resulted in decay similar to that of AOP, likely due to the in situ generation of radicals. Overall, the KrCl* 222 nm source significantly improves contaminant degradation compared to that of 254 nm LPUV.

A review of factors affecting the formation and roles of primary and secondary reactive species in UV254-based advanced treatment processes

The presence of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in water has been threatening human health and aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Ultraviolet-based advanced treatment processes (UV-ATPs) are one of the most effective and promising technologies to transform OMPs in water; therefore, an increasing number of emerging UV-ATPs are proposed. However, appropriate selection of UV-ATPs for practical applications is challenging because each UV-ATP generates different types and concentrations of reactive species (RSs) that may not be sufficient to degrade specific types of OMPs. Furthermore, the concentrations and types of RSs are highly influenced by anions and dissolved organic matter (DOM) coexisting in real waters, making systematic understandings of their interfering mechanisms difficult. To identify and address the knowledge gaps, this review provides a comparison of the generations and variations of various types of RSs in different UV-ATPs. These analyses not only prove the importance of water matrices on formation and consumption of primary and secondary RSs under different conditions, but also highlight the non-negligible roles of optical properties and reactivities of DOM and anions. For example, different UV-ATPs may be applicable to different target OMPs under different conditions; and the concentrations and roles of secondary RSs may outperform those of primary RSs in OMP degradation for real applications. With continuous progress and outstanding achievements in the UV-ATPs, it is hoped that the findings and conclusions of this review could facilitate further research and application of UV-ATPs.

Photobleaching-induced changes in the optical and photochemical properties of algal organic matter

Algal organic matter (AOM), a significant source of endogenous dissolved organic matter (DOM) is released in high concentrations during cyanobacterial blooms, along with cyanotoxins. Subsequent photobleaching of AOM is an important phenomenon to investigate. In this study, intracellular organic matter (IOM) and extracellular organic matter (EOM) were extracted from cultured cyanobacteria taken from Taihu Lake in China. The formation of photochemically produced reactive intermediates in different stages of IOM and EOM photobleaching was compared to Suwannee River DOM (SRDOM, reference standard DOM). Results revealed notable differences influenced by the pigment component among IOM, EOM, and SRDOM. The pigment in IOM contributed to a triplet state pool with strong energy-transfer but limited electron-transfer capabilities. Notably, IOM exhibited the highest triplets state quantum yield value in the visible region, suggesting its potential significance in pollutant degradation in deeper water layers. For EOM, one of the pools exhibits photolability and remarkable electron-transfer capability, indicating it as a high-energy triplet state component. Moreover, three cyanotoxins (MC-LR, ACA, and ATX-a) were detected in the extracted AOM, and their photodegradation was monitored during the AOM photobleaching process. This highlights the potential role of AOM as a photosensitizer in the natural self-cleaning mechanisms of water bodies, facilitating the degradation of organic pollutants through photochemical reactions. The findings of this study contribute to understanding the dynamic nature of AOM and its implications in environmental processes.

Photochemical Transformation of Free Chlorine Induced by Triplet State Dissolved Organic Matter

Photolysis of free chlorine is an increasingly recognized approach for effectively inactivating microorganisms and eliminating trace organic contaminants. However, the impact of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which is ubiquitous in engineered water systems, on free chlorine photolysis is not yet well understood. In this study, triplet state DOM (³DOM*) was found to cause the decay of free chlorine for the first time. By using laser flash photolysis, the scavenging rate constants of triplet state model photosensitizers by free chlorine at pH 7.0 were determined to be in the range of (0.26-3.33) × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1. ³DOM*, acting as a reductant, reacted with free chlorine at an estimated reaction rate constant of 1.22(±0.22) × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1 at pH 7.0. This study revealed an overlooked pathway of free chlorine decay during UV irradiation in the presence of DOM. Besides the DOM's light screening ability and scavenging of radicals or free chlorine, ³DOM* played an important role in the decay of free chlorine. This reaction pathway accounted for a significant proportion of the decay of free chlorine, ranging from 23 to 45%, even when DOM concentrations were below 3 mg_C L^-1 and a free chlorine dose of 70 μM was present during UV irradiation at 254 nm. The generation of HO^• and Cl^• from the oxidation of ³DOM* by free chlorine was confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance and quantified by chemical probes. By inputting the newly observed pathway in the kinetics model, the decay of free chlorine in UV₂₅₄-irradiated DOM solution can be well predicted.

Making waves: Opportunities and challenges of applying far-UVC radiation in controlling micropollutants in water

Concerns over human health risks associated with chemical contaminants (micropollutants) in drinking waters are rising due to the increased use of reclaimed water or water supplies impacted by upstream wastewater discharges. Ultraviolet (UV)-driven advanced oxidation processes (UV-AOPs) using radiation sources that emit at 254 nm have been developed as advanced treatments to degrade contaminants, while those UV-AOPs can be improved towards higher radical yields and lower byproduct formation. Several previous studies have suggested that Far-UVC radiation (200-230 nm) is a promising radiance source to drive UV-AOPs because the direct photolysis of micropollutants and production of reactive species from oxidant precursors can both be improved. In this study, we summarize from the literature the photodecay rate constants of five micropollutants by direct UV photolysis, which are higher at 222 than 254 nm. We experimentally determine the molar absorption coefficients at 222 and 254 nm of eight oxidants commonly used in water treatment and present the quantum yields of the oxidant photodecay. Our experimental results also show that the concentrations of HO^·, Cl^·, and ClO^· generated in the UV/chlorine AOP can be increased by 5.15-, 15.76-, and 2.86-fold, respectively, by switching the UV wavelength from 254 to 222 nm. We also point out the challenges of applying Far-UVC for micropollutant abatement in water treatment, including the strong light screening effect of matrix components (e.g., carbonate, nitrate, bromide, and dissolved organic matter), the formation of byproducts via new reaction pathways, and the needs to improve the energy efficiency of the Far-UVC radiation sources.

Trade-off effect of dissolved organic matter on degradation and transformation of micropollutants: A review in water decontamination

The degradation of micropollutants by various treatments is commonly affected by the ubiquitous dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the water environment. To optimize the operating conditions and decomposition efficiency, it is necessary to consider the impacts of DOM. DOM exhibits varied behaviors in diverse treatments, including permanganate oxidation, solar/ultraviolet photolysis, advanced oxidation processes, advanced reduction process, and enzyme biological treatments. Besides, the different sources (i.e., terrestrial and aquatic, etc) of DOM, and operational circumstances (i.e., concentration and pH) fluctuate different transformation efficiency of micropollutants in water. However, so far, systematic explanations and summaries of relevant research and mechanism are rare. This paper reviewed the "trade-off" performances and the corresponding mechanisms of DOM in the elimination of micropollutants, and summarized the similarities and differences for the dual roles of DOM in each of the aforementioned treatments. Inhibition mechanisms typically include radical scavenging, UV attenuation, competition effect, enzyme inactivation, reaction between DOM and micropollutants, and intermediates reduction. Facilitation mechanisms include the generation of reactive species, complexation/stabilization, cross-coupling with pollutants, and electron shuttle. Moreover, electron-drawing groups (i.e., quinones, ketones functional groups) and electron-supplying groups (i.e., phenols) in the DOM are the main contributors to its trade-off effect.

Photochemical behavior of constructed wetlands-derived dissolved organic matter and its effects on Bisphenol A photodegradation in secondary treated wastewater

Free water surface flow (FWS) constructed wetlands (CWs) have been broadly applied for polishing secondary treated effluents. Dissolved organic matter derived from FWS CWs (WDOM) plays key roles in contaminants transformations. Conversely, photodegradation could shape the quantity and quality of WDOM, thereby affecting its roles in the photolysis of organic micropollutants (OMPs). Nevertheless, whether and how solar irradiation-induced photodegradation modify the properties of WDOM, and the effects of WDOM on the photodegradation of OMPs remain unclear. This study elucidates the photochemical behavior of two WDOM isolated from field-scale FWS CWs for effluent polishing under simulated sunlight irradiation using spectroscopic tools and high-resolution mass spectra. Furthermore, the roles of WDOM in the photodegradation of Bisphenol A (BPA), as a representative endocrine-disrupting compound (EDC), were comprehensively investigated. Solar irradiation was demonstrated to lower the molecular weight and aromaticity of WDOM, as well as weaken its light absorption. Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectra further confirmed that aromatic and unsaturated structures were susceptible to solar irradiation-induced photodegradation reactions. Subsequently, less aromatic and more saturated structures eventually formed under sunlight irradiation, consistent with the result from spectroscopic characterization. The reactive species produced from WDOM significantly enhanced the photodegradation of BPA with the k_obs noticeably increasing 4-fold compared with the k_obs for direct photolysis. Additionally, ³WDOM* was identified as the dominant reactive species leading to the photolysis of BPA in the presence of WDOM. These findings improve understanding of the phototransformation behavior of WDOM under sunlight irradiation and the roles that WDOM plays in the photochemical fate of coexisting OMPs in CWs treatment systems.

Reducing properties of triplet state organic matter (3DOM*) probed via the transformation from chlorine dioxide to chlorite

The triplet states of dissolved organic matter (³DOM*) have been well known to oxidize various organic contaminants, but evidence of their reducing properties are largely scarce. In this work, chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) as a single-electron oxidant was used as a probe to evaluate the reduction property of ³DOM*. The reduction of ClO₂ to chlorite was observed in the solutions of model photosensitizers (i.e., 4-carboxybenzophenone, benzophenone, acetophenone, 3-methoxyacetophenone, naphthalene, and xanthone) during UV irradiation with the presence of ClO₂, though they are resistant to ClO₂ oxidation in the dark. The reducing property of the triplet states of photosensitizers was verified and their second-order reaction rate constants with ClO₂ were determined to be in the range of 1.45(± 0.03)× 10⁹ - 2.18(± 0.06) × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1 at pH 7.0. The quenching tests excluded the role of other reactive species (e.g., HO^•, O(³P), Cl^•, ClO^• and HOCl/OCl^-, O₂^•- and e_aq^-) in ClO₂ reduction to chlorite when using model photosensitizers and DOM isolates. Chlorite formation was 48.1-90.4% and 4812.8-7721.8% higher during UV irradiation with the presence of ClO₂ and DOM than those without UV irradiation or without DOM present, respectively. The enhancement was attributed to the enhanced electron donating capacity (chlorite precursors) of DOM upon UV irradiation and also to ³DOM* acting as an electron donor reducing ClO₂ to chlorite. This study highlighted the important role of ³DOM* as a reductant.

Quantification of the diverse inhibitory effects of dissolved organic matter on transformation of micropollutants in UV/persulfate treatment

Dissolved organic matter (DOM), ubiquitous in natural waters, is known to inhibit the degradation of micropollutants in the advanced oxidation processes such as the UV/peroxydisulfate process. However, the quantitative understanding of the inhibitory pathways is missing. In this study, guanosine, aniline and catechol belonging to amines, purines and phenols were first investigated due to their resistance to UV irradiation at 254 nm and similar reactivity with SO₄^•- and HO^•, respectively. The presence of 0.5 mg_C L^-1 Suwannee River NOM (SRNOM) inhibited their degradation rates by 72.9%, 54.5%, and 32.4%, respectively, despite their similar degradation rates in the absence of SRNOM. The results highlight the importance of reverse reduction of oxidation intermediates to the parent compound by antioxidant moieties in SRNOM besides the inner filtering and radical scavenging effects. The three inhibitory pathways were quantified for 34 common micropollutants. In the presence of 0.5 mg_C L^-1 SRNOM, inner filtering effect was found to contribute less than 2.8% of the inhibitory percentages (IP). Radical scavenging effects contribute between 10.7% and 38.9% and compounds having lower reactivity with SO₄^•- (< 4.0 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1) tended to be inhibited more strongly. The IP of reverse reduction effects of SRNOM varied significantly from none up to 70.8%. It was linearly related with a micropollutant's reduction potential. Purines and amines generally exhibited more pronounced reverse reduction inhibition than phenols. The results of this study provide guidance on improving the elimination efficiency of micropollutants.

Multiple Roles of Dissolved Organic Matter in Advanced Oxidation Processes

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) can degrade a wide range of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) to improve the quality of potable water or discharged wastewater effluents. Their effectiveness is impacted, however, by the dissolved organic matter (DOM) that is ubiquitous in all water sources. During the application of an AOP, DOM can scavenge radicals and/or block light penetration, therefore impacting their effectiveness toward contaminant transformation. The multiple ways in which different types or sources of DOM can impact oxidative water purification processes are critically reviewed. DOM can inhibit the degradation of TrOCs, but it can also enhance the formation and reactivity of useful radicals for contaminants elimination and alter the transformation pathways of contaminants. An in-depth analysis highlights the inhibitory effect of DOM on the degradation efficiency of TrOCs based on DOM's structure and optical properties and its reactivity toward oxidants as well as the synergistic contribution of DOM to the transformation of TrOCs from the analysis of DOM's redox properties and DOM's transient intermediates. AOPs can alter DOM structure properties as well as and influence types, mechanisms, and extent of oxidation byproducts formation. Research needs are proposed to advance practical understanding of how DOM can be exploited to improve oxidative water purification.

Effect of disinfection on the photoreactivity of effluent organic matter and photodegradation of organic contaminants

Chlorine, UV₂₅₄, and ozone are three typical processes commonly used for wastewater disinfection, which could change the photoreactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The photoinduced reactive species (RS) from DOM, primarily including the excited triplet state of DOM (³DOM*), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and hydroxyl radical (^•OH), play important roles in the attenuation of contaminants. However, the effect of disinfection processes on the photosensitized degradation of contaminants is poorly understood. This paper presents the first evidence that ³DOM*, ¹O₂, and ^•OH interaction with three typical contaminants (diphenhydramine, cimetidine, and N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET)) was largely impacted by DOM after disinfection. The results of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry and laser flash photolysis (LFP) experiments demonstrated that the chlorination increased the formation rate of ³DOM* and ¹O₂, while UV₂₅₄ irradiation and ozonation decreased the formation rate of these RS. All these three disinfection processes promoted the photoproduction of ^•OH and increased the photodegradation rate constants (k_obs) of DEET by 26-361%. The k_obs of diphenhydramine, cimetidine, and DEET correlated positively with the formation rate of ³DOM*, ¹O₂, and ^•OH, respectively. The bimolecular reaction rate constant of ³DOM* with diphenhydramine increased by ∼41% after chlorination. These findings suggest that disinfection processes altered the photogeneration of RS from DOM, which significantly impacts the fate of trace pollutants in aquatic environments.

Environmental photochemical fate of pesticides ametryn and imidacloprid in surface water (Paranapanema River, São Paulo, Brazil)

In addition to direct photolysis studies, in this work the second-order reaction rate constants of pesticides imidacloprid (IMD) and ametryn (AMT) with hydroxyl radicals (HO^●), singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and triplet excited states of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (³CDOM^*) were determined by kinetic competition under sunlight. IMD and AMT exhibited low photolysis quantum yields: (1.23 ± 0.07) × 10^-2 and (7.99 ± 1.61) × 10^-3 mol Einstein^-1, respectively. In contrast, reactions with HO^● radicals and ³CDOM* dominate their degradation, with ¹O₂ exhibiting rates three to five orders of magnitude lower. The values of k_IMD,HO● and k_AMT,HO● were (3.51 ± 0.06) × 10⁹ and (4.97 ± 0.37) × 10⁹ L mol^-1 s^-1, respectively, while different rate constants were obtained using anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQ2S) or 4-carboxybenzophenone (CBBP) as CDOM proxies. For IMD this difference was significant, with k_IMD,3AQ2S* = (1.02 ± 0.08) × 10⁹ L mol^-1 s^-1 and k_IMD,3CBBP* = (3.17 ± 0.14) × 10⁸ L mol^-1 s^-1; on the contrary, the values found for AMT are close, k_AMT,3AQ2S* = (8.13 ± 0.35) × 10⁸ L mol^-1 s^-1 and k_AMT,3CBBP* = (7.75 ± 0.80) × 10⁸ L mol^-1 s^-1. Based on these results, mathematical simulations performed with the APEX model for typical levels of water constituents (NO₃^-, NO₂^-, CO₃^2-, TOC, pH) indicate that the half-lives of these pesticides should vary between 24.1 and 18.8 days in the waters of the Paranapanema River (São Paulo, Brazil), which can therefore be impacted by intensive agricultural activity in the region.

Promotive effects of vacuum-UV/UV (185/254 nm) light on elimination of recalcitrant trace organic contaminants by UV-AOPs during wastewater treatment and reclamation: A review

The use of vacuum-UV/UV (185/254 nm) for trace organic contaminants (TOrCs) elimination during wastewater treatments has attracted much attention. Advanced oxidation processes which combine VUV/UV and additional oxidants (vacuum-UV/UV-based advanced oxidation processes, VUV/UV-AOPs) provide a promising method for eliminating recalcitrant and toxic TOrCs for wastewater reclamation. Researches in this area are increasing but the promoting effects, mechanisms, and influencing factors have not been well summarized. A comprehensive discussion of the limitations of this technique and future research directions is needed. VUV/UV-AOPs have considerable synergistic effects by increasing usage of VUV/UV photons and the oxidant, which increases radical generation. In terms of elimination kinetics, VUV/UV-AOPs outperform conventional UV-AOPs and VUV/UV processes in most cases; a 1.2-87.7-fold increase of the fluence-based kinetic constant is achieved. In terms of energy efficiency per order (EE/O) of TOrCs elimination, the EE/O of VUV/UV-AOPs only accounts for 4% of UV-AOPs and 63% of VUV/UV. However, VUV/UV-AOPs still need to be further investigated. Firstly, although VUV and UV processes have similar radical formation pathways, limited information is available on the quantum yields of photolysis and radical formation of oxidants under VUV irradiation. Secondly, optimization of VUV/UV-AOPs operating conditions, especially oxidant dosage and water-flow patterns, is needed. Thirdly, VUV/UV-AOPs are significantly inhibited by organic and inorganic matters, but the mechanisms of inhibition on VUV/UV scattering, radical quenching, and radical conversion are not well understood. Such inhibition suggests that the use of VUV/UV-AOPs would be limited to relatively clear water treatment, e.g., reverse osmosis effluent for potable water reuse and ultrapure water production. Related research is needed to establish a clearer scheme for VUV/UV-AOPs in terms of the spatial distribution of radical species in the VUV/UV irradiation system and the relevant optimization method for promoting oxidation performance.

Micropollutant abatement by the UV/chloramine process in potable water reuse: A review

The need in using reclaimed water increased significantly to address the water shortage and its continuing quality deterioration in sustaining societal development. Degrading micropollutants in wastewater treatment plant effluents is one of the most important tasks in supplying safe drinking water, which is often achieved by full advanced treatment technologies (FATs), including reverse osmosis (RO) and the UV-based advanced oxidation process (AOP). As an emerging AOP, UV/chloramine process shows many noteworthy advantages in the scenario of potable water reuse, including membrane biological fouling control by chloramine, producing highly reactive radicals (e.g., Cl^•, HO^•, Cl₂^•-, and reactive nitrogen-containing species) to degrade the RO permeated pollutants, and acting as long-lasting disinfectant in the potable water distribution system. In addition, chloramine is often designedly produced by taking advantage of the ammonia in source. Thus, UV/chloramine processes gather much attention from researcher and published papers on UV/chloramine process have drastically increased since 2016, which were thoroughly reviewed in this paper. The fundamentals of chloramine photolysis, including the photolysis kinetics, the quantum yield, the generation and transformation of radicals and the final products, were scrutinized. Further, the impacts of reaction conditions such as pH, chloramine dosage and water matrix on the degradation of micropollutants by the UV/chloramine process are discussed. Moreover, the formation potential of disinfection by-products is debated. The opportunity of application of the UV/chloramine process in real-world practice is also presented, emphasizing the need for extensive efforts to remove currently prevalent knowledge roadblocks.

Efficient reductive and oxidative decomposition of haloacetic acids by the vacuum-ultraviolet/sulfite system

Haloacetic acids (HAAs), as a representative category of halogenated disinfection byproducts, are widely detected in disinfected water. In this work, the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)/sulfite process under N₂ saturated conditions was proposed to eliminate a series of HAAs (i.e., monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), difluoroacetic acid (DFAA), trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), etc.). The in situ generated hydrated electron (e_aq^-) demonstrated to be the main species to fulfill the initial degradation and dechlorination of MCAA, while hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) were in charge of the mineralization of MCAA. This means that the VUV/sulfite system is a combination of advanced reduction and oxidation processes (ARPs and AOPs). A significant enhancement of MCAA removal was observed with increasing pH values from 6.0 to 10.0, and surprisingly, k_obs correlated well with the proportion of SO₃^2- as the pH changed. This can be explained by the production of e_aq^- from VUV irradiation of SO₃^2- rather than HSO₃^- and also due to e_aq^- being more stable under alkaline conditions. Increasing the sulfite dosage also elevated the degradation of MCAA. However, the addition of certain anions (i.e., chloride (Cl^-), bicarbonate (HCO₃^-), and nitrate (NO₃^-)) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) inhibited the removal of MCAA to varying degrees. The VUV/sulfite system was effective toward various types of halogenated disinfection byproducts, supporting its broad applicability. Nevertheless, even in real waters, the VUV/sulfite system was also promising for the simultaneous abatement of HAAs and other oxyanions.

Assessing the source of the photochemical formation of hydroxylating species from dissolved organic matter using model sensitizers

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is ubiquitous in natural waters and can facilitate the chemical transformation of many contaminants through the photochemical production of reactive intermediates, such as singlet oxygen (¹O₂), excited triplet state DOM (³DOM*), and hydroxylating species (˙OH and other intermediates of similar reaction chemistry). The formation mechanism of most reactive intermediates is well understood, but this is not the case for the formation of hydroxylating species from DOM. To investigate this chemistry, DOM model sensitizers were irradiated with two different probe compounds (benzene and benzoic acid) at two irradiation wavelengths (254 and 320 nm). The ability of DOM model sensitizers to hydroxylate these arene probes was assessed by measuring rates of formation of the hydroxylated probe compounds (phenol and salicylic acid). Multiple classes of model sensitizers were tested, including quinones, hydroxybenzoic acids, aromatic ketones, and other triplet forming species. Of these classes of model sensitizers, only quinones and hydroxybenzoic acids had a hydroxylating capacity. Methanol quenching experiments were used to assess the reactivity of hydroxylating species. These results have several implications for the systems tested. First, they suggest that the hydroxylating intermediate produced from hydroxybenzoic acid photolysis may not be hydroxyl radical, but a different hydroxylating species. Also, these data prompted investigation of whether quinone photoproducts have a hydroxylating capacity. These results confirm that hydroxybenzoic acids and quinones are important to the photochemical production of hydroxylating species from DOM, but the mechanism by which this occurs for these classes of sensitizers is still elusive.

Comparative analysis on the photolysis kinetics of four neonicotinoid pesticides and their photo-induced toxicity to Vibrio Fischeri: Pathway and toxic mechanism

Neonicotinoids are widely used pesticides all over the world and pose severe water pollution. Although they can be degraded via absorbing sunlight, few attentions have been paid to the environmental risks of their photolysis products. In this paper, the photo-toxicity was investigated for four neonicotinoids (dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam and clothianidin) based on a series of experiments (i.e., photolysis kinetics, radical scavenging, bioluminescent inhibition test to Vibrio Fischeri and intermediate identification) and in-silico calculation of photolysis pathway. The results show that direct photolysis dominates the photolysis of the four neonicotinoids under simulated sunlight radiation. The bioluminescent inhibition kinetics shows that all four neonicotinoids have photo-induced toxicity to V. fischeri, but with different light-induced responses. Scavenging radicals (·OH and ¹O₂) will decrease the photo-induced toxicity of all the four neonicotinoids, indicating radicals play important roles to the photo-chemical reactions of intermediates. Dissolved organic matters exhibit slightly shading effect to the photolysis rates of four parent compounds. However, the ROSs generated by DOM can accelerate the photo-chemical reactions of intermediates, leading to different photo-induced toxicity in present of DOM. According to the detected intermediates and Gaussian calculations, there are different photolysis pathways and mechanisms for the four neonicotinoids. The calculation for photo-sensitization reactions with ³O₂ indicates that both energy transfer reactions and electron transfer reactions can be produced under simulated sunlight radiation, which further consolidate that reactive oxygen species are involved in the photolysis process. A theoretical model has been developed to explain the toxicity variations of four neonicotinoids in different aqueous conditions.

Ultraviolet photolysis of four typical cardiovascular drugs: mechanisms, influencing factors, degradation pathways, and toxicity trends

The cardiovascular drugs (CDDs), such as metoprolol (MET), atenolol (ATE), bezafibrate (BZB), and atorvastatin (ATO), have been frequently detected in the water environment. They can cause potential threats to the ecological environment and human health due to their "pseudo-persistence" effect. In this study, the photolysis kinetics, degradation mechanisms, by-products, influencing factors, and acute toxicity of these four typical CDDs under polychromatic ultraviolet irradiation (200-400 nm) were investigated. The results showed that the photolysis of ATE, BZB, MET, and ATO all followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and their average photon quantum yields of the wavelength studied were 0.14×10^-2, 0.33×10^-3, 0.78×10^-4, and 0.24×10^-4 mol einstein^-1, respectively. Singlet oxygen (¹O₂), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and the triplet-excited state of the cardiovascular drug (³CDD*) were all involved in the photolysis while ¹O₂ was the dominator. The effects of NO₃^-, Cl^-, HCO₃^-, and humic acid (HA) on the photolysis were the combination of light-shielding, quenching, and excitation of reactive species. Seven, four, four, and nine photolysis products of ATO, BZB, ATE, and MET were identified, respectively, and their possible degradation pathways were proposed. The acute toxicity of ATE was basically unchanged during photolysis; however, ATO, BZB, and MET toxicity all increased due to the generation of ketonization and hydroxylation products.

The optimal dose of oxidants in UV-based advanced oxidation processes with respect to primary radical concentrations

UV-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) via photolysis of precursor chemical oxidants have been of interest to numerous researchers over the past several decades due to their capacity to generate highly active radical species and interesting radical chemistry. However, applications of UV-based AOPs have been commonly optimized case by case, due to the lack of theoretical investigations on process optimization, especially on oxidant doses. In this study, a simple equation for UV/H₂O₂ (•OH as the sole primary reactive species (PRS)) to obtain the theoretical optimal concentration (C_{opt-theoretical}) for H₂O₂ was derived (C_{opt-theoretical}=A_b·S_cε·k). The equation was then validated for its accuracy in the calculation of C_{opt-theoretical} for H₂O₂ in the UV/H₂O₂ AOP using a well-established comprehensive kinetic model. A competition kinetics method for the measurement of scavenging capacity (S_c, the unknown parameter for the simple equation) was designed, for which nitrobenzene was employed as the probe compound and tert‑butyl alcohol was introduced as the standard compound. Based on this simple equation, we calculated the C_{opt-theoretical} of 77 environmental water samples and introduced the concept of a practical optimal oxidants dose for the UV/H₂O₂ AOP, while minimizing the operation costs in engineering applications. Moreover, this study mathematically proved that the simple equation obtained from UV/H₂O₂ could be successfully extended to other UV-based AOPs, including UV/chlorine, UV/NH₂Cl, UV/S₂O₈^2-, and UV/peracetic acid. The simple equation of C_{opt-theoretical} derived in this study may not only help to provide instructions for engineering applications, but also point out the ultimate treatment capability of each UV-based AOPs.

UV-based advanced oxidation of dissolved organic matter in reverse osmosis concentrate from a potable water reuse facility: A Parallel-Factor (PARAFAC) analysis approach

Disposal of reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) from advanced water purification facilities is a challenge associated with the implementation of reverse osmosis-based treatment of municipal wastewater effluent for potable reuse. In particular, the dissolved organic matter (DOM) present in ROC diminishes the quality of the receiving water upon environmental disposal and affects the toxicity, fate, and transport of organic contaminants. This study investigates UV-based advanced oxidation processes (UV-AOPs) for treating DOM in ROC using a Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) approach. DOM composition and degradation were tested in UV-only and three UV-AOPs using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), free chlorine (Cl₂), and persulfate (S₂O₈^2-). The four-component PARAFAC model consisted of two terrestrial humic-like components (C_UVH and C_VisH), a wastewater/nutrient tracer component (C_NuTr), and a protein-like (tyrosine-like) component (C_PrTy). Based on the observed loss in the maximum fluorescence intensity of the components, DOM degradation was determined to be dependent on UV fluence, oxidant dose, and dilution factor of the ROC (i.e., bulk DOM concentration). C_VisH was most the photolabile component in the UV-only system, followed by C_NuTr, C_PrTy, and C_UVH, respectively. Furthermore, UV-H₂O₂ and UV-S₂O₈^2- displayed faster overall reaction kinetics compared to UV-Cl₂. The degradation trends suggested that C_NuTr and C_PrTy consisted of chemical moieties that were susceptible to reactive oxygen species (HO^•) but not reactive chlorine species; whereas, C_VisH was sensitive to all reactive species generated in the three UV-AOPs. Compared to other components, C_PrTy was recalcitrant in all treatment scenarios tested. Calculations using chemical probe-based analysis also confirmed these trends in the reactivity of DOM components. The outcomes of this study form a foundation for characterizing ROC reactivity in UV-AOP treatment technologies, to ultimately improve the sustainability of water reuse systems.

Photo-oxidation of arsenite in acidic waters containing Suwannee River fulvic acid: roles of 3SRFA* and hydroxyl radical

The photo-oxidation of arsenite (As(III)) in solution containing Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) under the ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation (λ_max = 365 nm) was studied. In a solution containing 100.0 μg·L^-1 As(III) and 10.0 mg·L^-1 SRFA at pH 3.0, SRFA induced As(III) photo-oxidation by producing the triplet excited state of SRFA (³SRFA*) and hydroxyl radical(HO˙). Approximately 82% of As(III) oxidation was attributed to HO˙ which depended strongly on HO₂˙/O₂˙^-. The remaining 18% of As(III) oxidation was attributed to the direct reaction between As(III) and ³SRFA*. The photo-oxidation of As(III) was significantly affected by solution pH. Excess SRFA inhibited As(III) photo-oxidation. The addition of a low concentration of ferric ions retarded the photo-oxidation of As(III) due to the poor photo-activity of Fe(III)-SRFA complexes. In contrast, the addition of ferric ions at high concentration greatly accelerated As(III) photo-oxidation because of the high photo-activity of Fe(III)-OH complexes. The fractions of SRFA with different molecular weight showed different oxidizing capacities under UV irradiation which was possibly related to the different contents of phenolic OH groups. The findings have important environmental implications for the photo-transformation behavior of As(III) in natural surface waters containing dissolved organic matter, especially acidic waters.

Effect of UVC pre-irradiation on the Suwannee river Natural Organic Matter (SRNOM) photooxidant properties

The present study aimed to investigate the changes in the chemical composition, and in the optical and photooxidant properties of Suwannee River Natural Organic Matter (SRNOM) induced by UVC (254 nm) treatment. The extent of the photodegradation was first assessed by UV-visible/fluorescence spectroscopies and organic carbon analysis. An in-depth investigation of the chemical changes was also conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after derivatizations. A series of mono, di and tricarbonyls and mono and dicarboxylic acids in C₁C₆ were identified in samples irradiated from 1 to 4 h. After 3 h of irradiation, carbonyls accounted for 46% of the organic carbon remaining in solution whereas carboxylic acids represented about 2%. Then, we investigated the modifications of the photooxidant properties of SRNOM induced by these chemical changes. At 254 nm, UVC pre-irradiated SRNOM photodegraded glyphosate 29 times faster than original SRNOM and the reaction was fully inhibited by 2-propanol (5 × 10^-3 M). This enhanced photooxidant properties at 254 nm toward glyphosate was therefore reasonably due to •OH radicals formation, as confirmed by additional ESR measurements. A mechanism involving a chain reaction was proposed based on independent experiments conducted on carbonyl compounds, particularly pyruvic acid and acetone. The findings of this study show that UVC pre-treatment of NOM can enhance the removal of water pollutants and suggests a possible integration of a NOM pre-activation step in engineered water treatment sytems.

A review on the potential of photocatalysis in combatting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater

Photocatalytic technology offers powerful virus disinfection in wastewater via oxidative capability with minimum harmful by-products generation. This review paper aims to provide state-of-the-art photocatalytic technology in battling transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater. Prior to that, the advantages and limitations of the existing conventional and advanced oxidation processes for virus disinfection in water systems were thoroughly examined. A wide spectrum of virus degradation by various photocatalysts was then considered to understand the potential mechanism for deactivating this deadly virus. The challenges and future perspectives were comprehensively discussed at the end of this review describing the limitations of current photocatalytic technology and suggesting a realistic outlook on advanced photocatalytic technology as a potential solution in dealing with similar upcoming pandemics. The major finding of this review including discovery of a vision on the possible photocatalytic approaches that have been proven to be outstanding against other viruses and subsequently combatting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. This review intends to deliver insightful information and discussion on the potential of photocatalysis in battling COVID-19 transmission through wastewater.

Phototransformation of an emerging cyanotoxin (Aerucyclamide A) in simulated natural waters

Aerucyclamide A (ACA) is an emerging cyanopeptide toxin produced by cyanobacteria, and its transformation pathway has rarely been reported. In the present study, ACA was purified from cyanobacterial extracts, and photodegradation processes were investigated in dissolved organic matter (DOM) solutions. Under simulated solar irradiation, the photodegradation of ACA was dominated by ^•OH oxidation, accounting for ~72% of the indirect photodegradation. The bimolecular reaction rate constant of ACA with ^•OH was (6.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁹M ^- 1s ^- 1. Our results indicated that the major reactive sites of ACA toward ^•OH are thiazoline and thiazole moieties. Product analysis via high-resolution mass spectrometry suggested that hydrogen abstraction and gradual hydroxylation are the main photodegradation pathways. The acute toxicity assessment indicate that the products generated in photolysis process did not show any measurable toxicity to Thamnocephalus platyurus. Photodegradation experiments with various DOM-phycocyanin mixtures demonstrated that the half-life of ACA is much longer than that of microcystin-LR.

Jointed Synchronous Photocatalytic Oxidation and Chromate Reduction Enabled by the Defect Distribution upon BiVO4: Mechanism Insight and Toxicity Assessment

Exploring active and ecological materials for the restoration of complex pollution system is highly desired. This study presents a facile defect-tailoring strategy for combined pollutants purification with BiVO₄ photocatalysis in which the jointed synchronous reaction of oxidation and reduction is integrated instead of the sequential reaction in two individual systems. XPS and EPR reveal that BiVO₄ with a suitable oxygen vacancies (OVs) concentration and distribution exhibits superior photocatalytic activity under the coexistence of TC-HCl and Cr(VI) with Cr(VI) reduction efficiency increased by 71 times compared with the individual Cr(VI) system along with TC-HCl removal efficiency comparable to a single TC-HCl system. The mechanism of synchronous redox reactions mediated by surface OVs is revealed by comprehensive characterization together with reaction kinetic analysis, and the electronic band structure adjustment induced by the OVs variation is confirmed. Active species identification tests and intermediate product analysis confirm that singlet oxygen (¹O₂) accounts for the selective oxidation of TC-HCl, while electrons dominate the reduction of Cr(VI), under a coexistent environment. The influence of water quality parameters (e.g., pH, cations, anions, and organic substances) on the photocatalytic activity is investigated considering the complexity of the real aquatic environment. Importantly, toxicity assessment with Gram-negative strain E. coli as a model bacterium validates that the toxicity of the intermediates can be reduced to low or even ultralow levels. This work is dedicated to the mechanistic study of defect photocatalysis over BiVO₄ and provides a jointed synchronous reaction system for combined pollutant purification.

Singlet Oxygen Quantum Yields in Environmental Waters

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is a reactive oxygen species produced in sunlit waters via energy transfer from the triplet states of natural sensitizers. There has been an increasing interest in measuring apparent ¹O₂ quantum yields (Φ_Δ) of aquatic and atmospheric organic matter samples, driven in part by the fact that this parameter can be used for environmental fate modeling of organic contaminants and to advance our understanding of dissolved organic matter photophysics. However, the lack of reproducibility across research groups and publications remains a challenge that significantly limits the usability of literature data. In the first part of this review, we critically evaluate the experimental techniques that have been used to determine Φ_Δ values of natural organic matter, we identify and quantify sources of errors that potentially explain the large variability in the literature, and we provide general experimental recommendations for future studies. In the second part, we provide a qualitative overview of known Φ_Δ trends as a function of organic matter type, isolation and extraction procedures, bulk water chemistry parameters, molecular and spectroscopic organic matter features, chemical treatments, wavelength, season, and location. This review is supplemented with a comprehensive database of Φ_Δ values of environmental samples.

Quantitative evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 inactivation using a deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode

Inactivation technology for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is certainly a critical measure to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode (DUV-LED) would be a promising candidate to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, based on the well-known antiviral effects of DUV on microorganisms and viruses. However, due to variations in the inactivation effects across different viruses, quantitative evaluations of the inactivation profile of SARS-CoV-2 by DUV-LED irradiation need to be performed. In the present study, we quantify the irradiation dose of DUV-LED necessary to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose, we determined the culture media suitable for the irradiation of SARS-CoV-2 and optimized the irradiation apparatus using commercially available DUV-LEDs that operate at a center wavelength of 265, 280, or 300 nm. Under these conditions, we successfully analyzed the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and the irradiation dose of the DUV-LEDs at each wavelength without irrelevant biological effects. In conclusion, total doses of 1.8 mJ/cm2 for 265 nm, 3.0 mJ/cm2 for 280 nm, and 23 mJ/cm2 for 300 nm are required to inactivate 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2. Our results provide quantitative antiviral effects of DUV irradiation on SARS-CoV-2, serving as basic knowledge of inactivation technologies against SARS-CoV-2.

Generation of hydroxyl radicals during photodegradation of chloroacetic acids by 254 nm ultraviolet: A special degradation process revealed by a holistic radical determination methodology

Upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, aqueous contaminants may undergo direct and/or indirect photolysis. Direct photolysis refers to transformation of contaminants by UV photon, and indirect photolysis refers to degradation of contaminants by UV-induced reactive species in the presence of photosensitizers. Because hydroxyl radical (•OH) was unexpectedly observed during chloroacetic acids photolysis without using photosensitizer, a question arises regarding whether direct photolysis-induced indirect photolysis (DPIP) was present and how it originated and evolved along the process. To answer these questions, this study employed multiple different yet complementary •OH detection approaches (i.e., probe, scavenger, electron paramagnetic resonance, and hydroxylation products) to prove the presence and role of •OH. Given that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was produced only in oxygenated water but not in deoxygenated water, we revealed that •OH was mainly generated by reduced oxygen. Meanwhile, several photolysis products like formate, glycolic acid, and glyoxylic acid were able to yield H₂O₂ too, suggesting that they can all trigger formation of •OH under 254 nm UV. In addition to evidences of DPIP phenomenon, this study is also novel in demonstrating a holistic methodology to prove and identify the presence and sources of radicals, which might help enhance understandings of UV processes.

Photolysis of atrazine: Role of triplet dissolved organic matter and limitations of sensitizers and quenchers

Atrazine, a widely used herbicide, is susceptible to photolysis. The role of triplet excited states of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (³CDOM*) in the photolysis of atrazine, however, is not well understood. The direct photolysis of atrazine under irradiation sources (natural sunlight/environmentally relevant simulated solar light) and its indirect photochemical reactivity with model triplet photosensitizers (benzophenone, 2-acetonaphthone, 3'-methoxy-acetophenone, 4-carboxybenzophenone, rose bengal, methylene blue, and anthraquinone-2-sulphonate) was investigated. The reactivity of the model sensitizers and DOM (Suwannee River natural organic matter, river/lake water, and wastewater effluent), were compared. The direct photolysis quantum yield was determined as 0.0196 mol Einstein^-1 in a solar simulator and 0.00437 mol Einstein^-1 under natural sunlight. Considerable photosensitization was induced by triplet state (n-π*) model sensitizers, while insignificant effects on atrazine loss were discerned in natural organic matter even when oxygen, a triplet quencher, was removed. The triplet sensitizers benzophenone and 2-acetylnaphthone reacted with L-histidine and 2-propanol that were intended to quench/ scavenge ¹O₂ and hydroxyl radical ^•OH, respectively, and benzophenone reacted with NaN₃ as a ¹O₂ scavenger and furfuryl alcohol as a ¹O₂ trapping agent, indicating quenchers may have unanticipated effects when using model sensitizers. Atrazine loss via reaction with ³DOM* will be relevant only in selected conditions, and this work provides a more comprehensive view on the use of model photosensitizers to mimic triplet ³DOM*.

Thermal Activation of Peracetic Acid in Aquatic Solution: The Mechanism and Application to Degrade Sulfamethoxazole

Chemical oxidation using peracetic acid (PAA) can be enhanced by activation with the formation of reactive species such as organic radicals (R-O^•) and HO^•. Thermal activation is an alternative way for PAA activation, which was first applied to degrade micropollutants in this study. PAA is easily decomposed by heat via both radical and nonradical pathways. Our experimental results suggest that a series of reactive species including R-O^•, HO^•, and ¹O₂ can be produced through the thermal decomposition of PAA. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a typical sulfa drug, can be effectively removed by the thermoactivated PAA process under conditions of neutral pH. R-O^• including CH₃C(O)O^• and CH₃C(O)OO^• has been shown to play a primary role in the degradation of SMX followed by direct PAA oxidation in the thermoactivated PAA process. Both higher temperature (60 °C) and higher PAA dose benefit SMX degradation, while coexisting H₂O₂ inhibits SMX degradation in the thermoactivated PAA process. With a variation of solution pH, conditions near a neutral value show the best performance of this process in SMX degradation. Based on the identified intermediates, transformation of SMX was proposed to undergo oxidation of the amine group and oxidative coupling reactions. This study definitively illustrates the PAA decomposition pathways at high temperature in aquatic solution and addresses the possibility of the thermoactivated PAA process for contaminant destruction, demonstrating this process to be a feasible advanced oxidation process.

Kinetic and mechanistic insights into the abatement of clofibric acid by integrated UV/ozone/peroxydisulfate process: A modeling and theoretical study

The feasibility of integrated UV/ozone (O₃)/peroxydisulfate (PDS) process for abatement of clofibric acid (CA) was systematically explored in this study with focus on the kinetic simulation and oxidation mechanisms. The results indicated the UV/O₃/PDS process was of prominent treatment capability with pseudo-first-order rate constant of CA degradation increased by 65.9% and 86.0% compared to UV/O₃ and UV/PDS processes, respectively. A chemical kinetic model was developed and successfully employed to predict CA elimination as well as the specific contributions of UV, hydroxyl radical (^•OH) and sulfate radical (SO₄^•-) under different PDS dosage, pH, natural organic matters, bicarbonate and chloride conditions in UV/O₃/PDS process. According to quantum chemical calculation, radical addition on ortho site of isopropoxy substituent and single electron transfer were corroborated to be the dominant reaction channels for the oxidation of CA by ^•OH and SO₄^•-, respectively. Additionally, the reactive sites and transformation pathways of CA were proposed via Fukui function calculation and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. Moreover, the performance of UV/O₃/PDS process was further evaluated with regard to the energy demand and bromate formation. This study first proposed a kinetic model in UV/O₃/PDS process and elucidated the regioselectivity and products distribution of CA during oxidative treatment.

Quantitative determination of redox-active carbonyls of natural dissolved organic matter

Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) is ubiquitous in environment and plays an important role in numerous environmental processes. Although the molecular basis of the reactivity of DOM remains poorly understood due to its extreme complexity, redox-active carbonyls (aromatic ketones/aldehydes and quinones) within DOM are believed vitally important. Except the rough determination of total carbonyls (including non-redox active -COOR) based on inflexible ¹³C chemical shift range by expensive and time-consuming solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), there is no ready method to quantify redox-active carbonyls in DOM. Here we show that after treatment with sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) by selectively eliminating redox-active carbonyls, quenched fluorescence of carbon quantum dots (CD) by DOM recovered dramatically, and displayed a good linear relationship between redox-active carbonyls detected and DOM concentration (R² ≥ 0.977), thus allowing first quantitative determination of the redox-active carbonyls of DOM. Eight DOM isolates present 0.59%-0.90% redox-active carbonyls by the current method. And this method is robust from coexisting proteins and salts. This method could provide better or equal instructive results compared with solid-state NMR for total carbonyls or electrochemical method for electron-accepting capacities (EAC). Our results provide the underlying structural basis of many important geochemical processes that mediated by DOM. We posit that this method could apply to other complex molecular systems such as the atmospheric aerosols and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), too.

Effect of UV254 disinfection on the photoformation of reactive species from effluent organic matter of wastewater treatment plant

UV₂₅₄ is one of the main disinfection methods used in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for the inactivation of pathogens in the effluents before being discharged into the receiving waters. The effluent organic matters (EfOM) are well-known photosensitizers for the generation of reactive species, mainly including the triplet states of EfOM (³EfOM*), singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and hydroxyl radical (^•OH), which contribute to the removal of trace pollutants in water. However, the effect of UV₂₅₄ disinfection on the photoreactivity of EfOM remains unclear. Here we investigated the photophysical and photochemical properties variation of EfOM after UV₂₅₄ disinfection, along with humic substances (HS) as comparison. The UV₂₅₄ disinfection caused a decrease of aromaticity, fluorescence intensity and molecular weight for all samples, while a reduction formation of triplet state of these dissolved organic matters (³DOM*), ¹O₂, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and superoxide anions (O₂^•-) under simulated sunlight was observed. In contrast, the generation of ^•OH was increased after UV₂₅₄ disinfection. The quantum yield of ¹O₂ was positively correlated with triplet quantum yield coefficient (f_TMP) in all cases. However, the quantum yield of ^•OH exhibited positive and negative correlations with f_TMP for EfOM and HS, respectively. The quantum yields showed positive correlations with E2/E3 (ratio of the absorbance at 254 to 365 nm) for untreated DOM samples, while for the first time we found the trends differ distinctly after UV₂₅₄ disinfection. These findings indicate that UV₂₅₄ disinfection in WWTPs significantly increases the potential of ^•OH photoproduction from effluents and the cost-effective solar irradiation after UV₂₅₄ disinfection is expected to be a novel technique for further removal of pathogen and trace organic pollutants in wastewater effluents and receiving waters.

Degradation and deactivation of a plasmid-encoded extracellular antibiotic resistance gene during separate and combined exposures to UV254 and radicals

This study investigated the degradation and deactivation of an extracellular ampicillin resistance gene (amp^R) encoded in plasmid pUC19 during exposure to UV₂₅₄, ^•OH (generated by UV_>290/H₂O₂), and combined exposure to UV₂₅₄ and ^•OH (and/or SO₄^•-) using UV₂₅₄/H₂O₂ and UV₂₅₄/S₂O₈^2-. The degradation rates of amp^R measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction increased with increasing target amplicon length (192-851 bps). The rate constants for the degradation of pUC19 (2686 bps) were calculated as 0.26 cm²/mJ for UV₂₅₄ and 1.5 × 10¹¹ M^-1s^-1 for ^•OH, based on the degradation rates of amp^R amplicons and assuming an equal sensitivity of DNA damage across the entire plasmid. DNA repair-proficient Escherichia coli (E. coli) AB1157 strain (wild-type) and its repair-deficient mutants including AB1886 (uvrA^-), AB2463 (recA^-), AB2480 (uvrA^-, recA^-), and DH5α (recA^-, endA^-) were applied as recipient cells in gene transformation assays. Results suggested that the elimination efficiency of transforming activity during UV₂₅₄ and ^•OH exposure was dependent on the type of DNA repair genes in recipient E. coli strains. Losses of transforming activity were slower than the degradation of pUC19 by a factor of up to ∼5 (for E. coli DH5α), highlighting the importance of DNA repair in recipient cells. The degradation rates of amp^R amplicons were much larger (by a factor of ∼4) in UV₂₅₄/H₂O₂ and UV₂₅₄/S₂O₈^2- than UV₂₅₄ direct photolysis, indicating the significant contribution of ^•OH and SO₄^•- to the gene degradation. Not only UV₂₅₄ and SO₄^•-, but also ^•OH contributed to the degradation of amp^R during UV₂₅₄/S₂O₈^2-, which was attributed to the conversion of SO₄^•- to ^•OH and a 10-fold larger reactivity of ^•OH towards amp^R as compared to SO₄^•-. However, the enhanced gene degradation by radicals did not lead to a faster elimination of gene transforming activity during UV₂₅₄/H₂O₂ and UV₂₅₄/S₂O₈^2-, suggesting that UV₂₅₄- and radical-induced DNA damage were not additive in their contributions to losses of gene transforming activity. Wastewater effluent organic matter (EfOM) accelerated the degradation of amp^R during UV₂₅₄ irradiation by means of reactive species production through indirect photolysis reactions, whereas EfOM mainly acted as a radical scavenger during UV₂₅₄/H₂O₂ and UV₂₅₄/S₂O₈^2- treatments.

Modeling the Kinetics of UV/Peracetic Acid Advanced Oxidation Process

Peracetic acid combined with UV (i.e., UV/PAA) has emerged as a novel advanced oxidation process (AOP) for water disinfection and micropollutant degradation, but kinetic modeling for this AOP was lacking. In this study, a comprehensive model was developed to elucidate the reaction mechanisms and simulate reaction kinetics of UV/PAA process. By combining radical scavenging experiments and kinetic modeling, accurate quantum yield of PAA under UV₂₅₄ (Φ = 0.88 ± 0.04 mol-Einstein^-1) was determined via simultaneously quenching ^•OH and CH₃C(O)O^• with 2,4-hexadiene. The comparison between experimental observations and model predictions over a wide range of conditions allowed estimation of the rate constants of PAA with ^•OH (k_^•OH/PAA = 1.3 ± 0.2 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1) and HO₂^• (k_HO2^•/PAA ≤ 5 × 10² M^-1 s^-1) with good accuracy. With derived Φ, k_^•OH/PAA and k_HO2^•/PAA, the kinetic model accurately predicts PAA decay under UV₂₅₄ photolysis across varying PAA and H₂O₂ concentrations and water pH (5.8-7.2). Meanwhile, the model reveals that UV/PAA generates a lower ^•OH concentration than UV/H₂O₂ at equivalent oxidant concentrations, with CH₃C(O)OO^• as the most abundant carbon-centered radical. This study significantly improves the knowledge of reactive species generation and reaction kinetics and mechanisms under UV/PAA, and provides a useful kinetic model for this AOP in water treatment.

Photolysis and photocatalysis of haloacetic acids in water: A review of kinetics, influencing factors, products, pathways, and mechanisms

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are a group of pollutants ubiquitous in natural environment and anthropogenic systems, and therefore in need of control. Photolysis and photocatalysis techniques via ultraviolet (UV)-based technologies have held promise for decades in degrading organic molecules in water, but their capacities in removing HAAs remain to be explored. To better understand the trends in the existing literature and to identify the knowledge gaps that may merit further exploration, this review compares the HAAs photodegradation kinetics, influencing factors, reaction products, pathways, and mechanisms for a variety of UV technologies. The selected UV processes are classified into three types: UV-only photolysis, photooxidation, and photoreduction. Overall, although trends vary significantly depending upon many factors, the photo-susceptibility of HAAs always increases with rising molecular weight of substituted halogen atom(s), with those chlorinated HAAs being the most refractory species. Notably, while many processes proved hydroxyl radical (OH) as the forcing driver, the patterns of kinetics among HAAs were not consistent among processes, suggesting that OH was not the only driver. Compared to earlier studies focusing on specific technologies to treat numerous contaminants through a material perspective, this review commits to understanding the commonalities and differences among multiple UV-based technologies in treating only one group of compound mainly via a chemistry viewpoint.

Kinetics and mechanism of thiamethoxam abatement by ozonation and ozone-based advanced oxidation processes

In this study, the abatement of neonicotinoid insecticide, thiamethoxam, by single ozonation, ozone/ultraviolet (O₃/UV) and electro-peroxone (EP) process was evaluated. The second-order rate constants for the reaction of thiamethoxam with O₃ and hydroxyl radical (OH) at pH 7 were determined to be 15.4 M^-1 s^-1 and 3.9 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1, respectively. The degradation pathways of thiamethoxam were proposed based on quantum chemical calculations and transformation products were identified using chromatographic and mass-spectrometric techniques. The acute and chronic toxicity of thiamethoxam and its major TPs to various aquatic organisms were assessed. With typical ozone doses applied in water treatment (≤5 mg/L), thiamethoxam was abated by only ∼16-32 % in two real water matrices (groundwater and surface water) during single ozonation, but by ∼100 % and >70 % during the O₃/UV and EP treatment, respectively. The energy demand to abate 90 % thiamethoxam in the two water matrices was generally comparable for single ozonation and the EP process (∼0.14 ± 0.03 kW h/m³), but higher for the O₃/UV process (0.21-0.22 kW h/m³). These results suggest that single ozonation is unable to sufficiently abate thiamethoxam under typical conditions of water treatment. Therefore, ozone-based advanced oxidation processes are needed to enhance thiamethoxam abatement.