Ozone treatment of persistent organic chemical wastewater

We developed an ozone treatment process for wastewater containing persistent organic chemicals that are not easily treated by conventional processes. These include alkylbenzenesulfonic acids (ABS), phenol, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). We confirmed that there are different optimal pH conditions with respect to the efficiency of ozone treatment for different types of organic compounds. The potential of the process was convincingly demonstrated; with proper pH adjustment it is extremely effective. Organic compounds, for which biological treatment is not suitable, can be converted to biologically degradable compounds without generating hazardous byproducts. Ozone treatment can be extremely cost-effective, particularly, for high-level wastewater.