Efficiency of Removing Emerging Contaminants from Wastewater Using Electron Beam
Despite the implementation of regulated and established approaches to the treatment of wastewater, it is well-established that it contains a vast array of contaminant compounds. Regrettably, these conventional methods may not effectively eliminate all emerging contaminant compounds present in wastewater. Consequently, the release of undesirable compounds into the environment, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, corrosion inhibitors, and other similar substances, becomes an unavoidable consequence. In pursuit of a more efficient and wide-ranging wastewater treatment strategy, radiation technology has been proposed and has gained prominence in the field as one of the novel and efficacious methodologies. The application of radiation technology in wastewater treatment has been recognized for several decades. Its implementation varies, with radiation being employed either as a standalone approach or in combination with existing methods to execute the treatment process effectively. The primary objective of this project was to achieve substantial degradation of organic compounds within wastewater effluent. This was pursued through the utilization of electron beam irradiation, administered at a carefully determined dose, in conjunction with conventional treatment methods. Wastewater samples were obtained from the effluent of the Syracuse Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant during various seasons. These collected samples were subjected to irradiation at varying doses, and subsequent analysis of the irradiated water samples was carried out using untargeted high-resolution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS).The obtained results demonstrated that electron beam treatment exhibited substantial effectiveness in degrading contaminants. At least 80% of individual contaminant species were degraded up to 84.52% by the electron beam treatment.