Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)

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UNSW Centre for Transformational Environmental Technologies (CTET)

AOP technologies produce strong oxidants including hydroxyl radicals, sulfate radicals and high valent metal species to either realize complete mineralisation of organic pollutants (to carbon dioxide) or render them more biodegradable. The generation of active oxidants depends on external energy input or catalyst addition. CTET is engaged in the development and optimisation of a suite of Advanced Oxidation Processes that can transform non-biodegradable and toxic organics to less harmful products including catalytic ozonation, Fe-based and “green” Fenton and anodic oxidation processes.

Our technologies

Silver nanoparticles based water treatment technologies

Silver/silver halide based photocatalysts generate reactive oxidants such as chlorine and/or carbonate radical with these species capable of inducing oxidation of organic contaminants on irradiation by visible light.

Development and use of immobilized biomimetic ligands for oxidative degradation of contaminants

Biomimetic ligands for oxidative degradation take inspiration from natural biological enzyme motifs to generate ligands that are both oxidatively robust and capable of stabilizing highly oxidizing high-valent metal species. The oxidizing form can be catalytically generated from the resting state in many ways and employed to degrade a broad variety of contaminants.

Projects

  • Nanofiltration or reverse osmosis is often used to further improve the quality of effluent from membrane bioreactors (MBRs) treating municipal wastewater. UNSW and CTET staff have worked with industry partners from China to assess the efficiency of various advanced oxidation technologies that can improve the biodegradability of organics in the brine from nanofiltration and achieve zero liquid discharge of advanced water treatment plants.
     

  • CTET worked with industry partners in China, improved efficiency and reduced the cost of catalytic ozonation treatment of different types of industrial wastewater through a thorough understanding of mechanisms of oxidation processes. Chemistry of organic degradation by ozone is coupled with hydrodynamic modelling of the reactor to improve the overall process.

  • Several approaches have been developed for a cleaner and more efficient utilisation of coals, including coking, gasification, and liquefaction. However, all these approaches inevitably generate large quantities of wastewater that needs to be treated before it can be discharged, which has been a challenge for coal industries due to the high salt content and presence of complex organic matter. CTET’s research team, led by Professor David Waite is developing novel catalysts and reactor designs for the efficient degradation of refractory organics in high-salinity wastewaters from mining industries using catalytic ozonation processes.

Further information