Many harmful substances in waste water stubbornly resist being broken down by biological waste water treatment plants. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a photochemical reaction system in which water can be reliably treated at high flow rates by UV light without having to add chemical catalysts. They will be presenting an initial industrial prototype at this year's IFAT in Munich, 5-9 May.
폐수에는 환경으로 유입되어서는 안 되는 많은 것들이 있습니다. -- 하지만 폐수 처리 공장에서는 이러한 오염 물질의 일부만 제거합니다. 특히, 생물학적 처리 단계에서 흔히 사용되는 세균은 매우 안정한 탄화수소 화합물을 포함하는 잔류성 물질에 영향을 미치지 않습니다. 결과: 세제 잔류물, 살충제 및 약리학적 물질이 환경 수역에 도달합니다. 예를 들어, 북해에서 이러한 종류의 유해 물질로 인한 부하량은 오늘날 이미 명확하게 측정할 수 있습니다.
Researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart together with international industrial partners have now developed a new chemical reaction system that breaks down these kinds of resilient and harmful molecules thoroughly and efficiently -- without having to add chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, for instance. Instead, the researchers are essentially utilizing the "self-healing" power of water aided by photolysis (a.k.a. photochemical dissociation). The principle of photolysis is based on splitting water molecules using photons. The shorter the wavelength of light, the higher the photons' energy. Researchers therefore use light sources in this system that emit UV light exclusively in the region of 172 nanometers -- i.e. extremely energetic photons. As soon as these photons enter water, they split the H2O molecules, forming highly reactive hydroxyl radials as a result. "These hydroxyl compounds have an even higher reaction potential than atomic oxygen, for example. They are therefore able to decompose even very stable hydrocarbon compounds contained in harmful residues," explains Siegfried Egner, head of the Physical Process Technology department at IGB.
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There is a catch, however: this process takes place only in the immediate vicinity of the UV emitter -- a rectangular, flat glass element that is positioned in the reactor vessel. When power is applied to the element, the hydroxyl radicals form a thin reactive boundary layer only about 50 micrometers deep surrounding the external surface of the glass. In order to be sure no harmful particles escape untreated, the water must be controllably and verifiably directed through this boundary layer -- a genuinely tricky task. On the one hand, you have to make sure the entire contents of the reactor vessel is treated. On the other, the researchers would like to be as certain as possible that every single hydroxyl radical formed is also used for a chemical reaction. This is because the extremely reactive hydroxyl radicals are extremely short-lived. If no "fresh" molecules are found to react with during this time interval, the energy of the hydroxyl radicals goes unused. The experts in Stuttgart have been successful in controlling the movement of the water so exactly that all of the reactor vessel contents are reliably and highly efficiently treated.
The first industrial prototype, which has a through-put of 2.5 cubic meters per hour, will be shown by the researchers and their industry partners at the trade fair. "A certain amount of variation is normal, since the processing speed depends of course on the degree of contamination as well," explains Egner. To be sure the water is actually discharged only if its quality is impeccable, the unit is equipped with an additional safety mechanism. A sensor system is located right at the discharge port that monitors the water for harmful substances. The water is discharged only once impurities falls below a maximum permitted value. The entire unit is fully automatic and programmable -- for instance, it can be switched on and off depending on the electrical power rates on offer.
