TABLE OF CONTENTS Chemical oxidation of wastewater involves mixing wastewater with strong chemical oxidants such as potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, bromine, oxygen, sodium hypochlorite, or ozone. Chemical oxidation is suited to relatively dilute wastewater, high strength wastewater of low volume, or groundwater, but it is not generally suited for high strength complex wastewater of substantial volume. Other specialized technologies, such as wet air oxidation, are more suited to the treatment of very high strength industrial wastewaters.
Chemical oxidation is useful for detoxifying individual wastestreams prior to secondary treatment and for rendering refractory organics amenable to biological treatment. Chemical oxidation has been used successfully for color removal in industrial wastes and for the complete destruction of pesticide wastes. Chemical oxidation systems often employ chemical or ultraviolet catalysts to improve oxidation efficiency.
Chemical oxidation reactions are markedly sensitive to pH, the presence of interferences, and the effects of catalysts. Also, chemical oxidation reactions are not always complete; that is, the end results are not always carbon dioxide and water. Further treatment may be necessary.
Table 6.10 presents TOC and COD removal data for the oxidation of various aromatic compounds.
| Compound | Initial oxidation state | TOC removal, % [a], [b], [c] | COD removal, % [d] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H 2O 2 | KMnO 4 | O 3 | H 2O 2 | KMnO 4 | O 3 |
| Pyrrolidine | -1.76 | 34.9 | NR |
