Degradation of Hydrophilic Polymers in Aqueous Solution by Using Ozone Microbubble

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) in aqueous solution was decomposed by treating O3 microbubbles and O3 water. The molecular weight of PEG treated with O3 microbubbles became lower, and the PEG degradation was enhanced in alkaline condition. PEG in aqueous solution was efficiently decomposed by reactive oxygen species generated by O3 decomposition, and O3 microbubbles promoted the O3 decomposition in the interface of O3 gas and surrounding water in which OH anion localized. PEG in aqueous solution was decomposed to inorganic oxygen by advanced oxidation process (AOP) of O3 microbubbles and H2O2, and the reduction rate of total organic carbon (TOC) was over 70%.