Energy-efficient electro-ozonizers: A solution for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in wastewater
This study evaluates the energetic aspects and competitiveness of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology for the electrochemical generation of ozone gas, used as a disinfectant for pretreating hospital wastewater to reduce bacterial load. The findings indicate that higher current densities favor...
| Autores: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Data de publicação: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Recursos: | Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha |
| Repositório: | RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/47753 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2025.107639 https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47753 |
| Access Level: | Acceso aberto |
| Palavra-chave: | Antibiotic-resistant bacteria Disinfection PEM cell Ozone Hospital wastewater |
| Resumo: | This study evaluates the energetic aspects and competitiveness of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology for the electrochemical generation of ozone gas, used as a disinfectant for pretreating hospital wastewater to reduce bacterial load. The findings indicate that higher current densities favor the efficiency of ozone production over oxygen evolution, with energy consumption values ranging from 0.38 to 0.86 kWh per gram of O3 at current densities of 75 and 25 mA cm⁻², respectively. PEM technology demonstrates high effectiveness and competitiveness in reducing bacterial load in hospital effluents compared to other Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs). The use of a jet aerator significantly enhances process efficiency, achieving up to a tenfold increase compared to non-aerated conditions, and with energy consumption values of 2.37 and 1.16 kWh per cubic meter per order at suction flow rates of 0.1 and 0.4 L min⁻¹ , respectively. In continuous operation mode, the flow rate of treated urine impacts the inactivation of K. pneumoniae, with disinfection rates exceeding 99.99 % achieved at flow rates below 0.250 L h⁻¹ and ratios of g O₃ per g DOC above 0.05. These findings underscore the potential of PEM technology as an efficient and competitive method for hospital wastewater disinfection. |
|---|