Ozonation Kinetics of Cork-Processing Water in a Bubble Column Reactor

Ozonation kinetics of cork-processing water in a bubble column reactor was studied. The organic matter in the samples was characterised in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC). Ozonation of wastewater containing complex molecules such as dyes and high molecular weight substances usually resulted in a fast degradation of the initial molecules, but in a limited degree of mineralisation. The TOC profile followed almost a monotone decreasing trend; however, the COD profile was characterised by a pattern of fast and slow COD depletion rates. At the beginning of the ozonation process, a sharp decrease in pH and an increase in oxidation reduction potential (ORP) with processing time were observed.