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UV disinfection: Radiation and wastewater quality parameters as operational

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 @ by PSP Volume 14 - No 4. 2005 Fresenius
UV DISINFECTION: RADIATION AND WASTEWATER
QUALITV PARAMETERS AS OPERATIONAL INDICATORS
Esteban Alonso\ Antonio Santos2 and Pascual Riesco3
l IDepartrnent of Analytical ChemistIy, Faculty of ChemistIy, University of Seville, 41012, Seville, Spain
2Centre for tbe New Water Technologies (CENTA), Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
3Departrnent of FIuid Mechanics, University of Seville, 41092, Seville, Spain.
SUMMARY
Several parameters, such as total suspended solids,
chemical oxygen demand, and parameters related to the
plant operation (intensity of radiation of the lamps and
transmittance) have been used as operational indicators of
the disinfection efficiency of a secondary effiuent from a
wastewater treabnent plant using UV radiation at 253.7 nm.
The results obtained were statistically analysed to estab-
lish the correlations between the quality parameters of the
influent and the operational conditions of the lamps, un-
der standard conditions of the influx water. A significant
(p<O.OOl)relationship was found between lamp radiation
intensity and the radiation obtained by the microorganisms.
KEYWORDS: Ultraviolet disinfection, wastewater, tertiary treat-
ment, pilot plant, pathogenic organisms removal.
INTRODUCTION
Human exposure to wastewater released to the envi-
ronment, combined with the presence of certain types of
health-hazardous microorganisms in the effluents, have
resulted in a growing demand for tertiary treatments in-
cluding disinfection.
The mostly used common disinfection process is the
chlorination. However, the presence of arnmoniacal nitro-
gen and organic substances derived from the chlorination
favours the formation of chloramines and trihalomethanes,
whose harrnful effects for the reuse of the treated water
are well-known [1-3]. Disinfection by UV radiation is a
clean and safe alternative without toxic effects achieving
target disinfection levels within a shorter treabnent time,
and a lower-cost one compared to chemical techniques,
such as ozonization. Disinfection with intensive UV ra-
diation is very effective in the inactivation of chlorine-
resistant microorganisms, such as viruses, bacterial and
fungal spores, and cysts ofprotozoa [4,5].
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Ultraviolet light acts like a microbiocide agent by alter-
ing the genetic material (DNA and RNA) and affecting its
reproductive capacity. The wavelengths achieving highest
disinfection rates range from 250 to 270 nm, and that most
cornmooly used is 253.7 nm [6-10]. When applying UV-
disinfection, the quality of the water to be treated is an
important factor on account of the screening effect resulting
from suspended solids and other substances, such as float-
ing oils and fats, coloured compounds or metals (Fe, Mn).
Such substances have a modifying effect on the radiation
intensity received by the microorganisms [11, 12].
The radiation emitted by the ultraviolet lamps is not
fully transmitted to the microorganisms. Therefore, an
estimation of the net radiation impinging on these is essen-
tial to calculate the inactivation rates achieved and to opti-
mize the UV-treabnent plants [13]. In the present study, a
statistical analysis was carried out between the radiation
intensity received by the microorganisms and important
wastewater parameters (total suspended solids (TSS) and
chemical oxygen demand (COD».
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The experiments were carried out over a two-months
periodoA 315K-PTP Trojan pilot plant was used, consist-
ing of a rectangular-section stainless steel channel in which
twelve lamps, separated into two groups of six lamps in
series, were submerged. The installations were designed for
a maximum flow rate of 20 m3h-J,with wastewater flowing
in from the effiuent of a wastewater treabnent plant
(WWTP: activated sludge) operating as a part of the inte-
gral sanitation system of Seville, Spain (WWTP North 1).
The whole experimental process was carried out in a
continuous operation mode. Samples were collected at
both the water iolet and oudet. The operational conditions
of the plant are given in Table 1.Analytical determina-
tions were carried out for TSS, COD, and fecal and total
coliforms (membrane filter technique). Standard analytical
... ~~~- ~~ 11IIII
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T ABLE 1 Operational conditions of the plant.

Flow rate Dose Intensity Reaction time Transmittance

(m3h"l) (mW's cm"2) (Mw cm"2) (s) (%)
9.5 78.7- 311.7 2.09 - 6.03 18.0 77.3- 80.2
2.8 235.2- 738.5 2.5- 8.3 122.83 45.4- 79.9
8 108.4- 311.4 3.76-7.27 42.84 65.7- 84.9
15 49.8- 166.1 2.85-7.27 22.85 55.3- 85

methods were applied to all the wastewater analyses [14].
The intensity of the radiation received by the microorgan-
isms was estimated by means of a direct measurement of
the absorbance of wastewater at 253.7 nm (wavelength of
radiation lamps).
The radiation intensity received by the microorgan-
isms was directly read from the experimental set-up. The
resulting data were compared with an empirical curve
provided by the commercial fmn for standard influent
water (SPSS Trojan method, 1997; see Fig. 2).
Correlation analyses were carried out by means of the
Statsoft Statistics for Windows software.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
During the two-months experimental period, a se-
quence of influent samples, numbered from I to 62, were
subjected to UV-radiation. The intensity emitted ranged
from 2.09 to 7.27 mW cm'2. In all samples, a complete
elimination of the microbial flora was reported in terms of
the two parameters under observation (100% elimination
of total and fecal coliforms).
Figure I shows the values of emitted UV-intensity
(mW cm,2) and the associated transmittance (%) for the
samples taken at the plant inlet, as well as two quality
parameters, TSS (mg r1) and COD (mg rl). As expected,
high TSS values in the influent water are associated with
low transmittance values (see samples 17,25 and 29). The
COD curve roughly follows the same pattern as the TSS
curve, thus showing that most oxygen-demanding sub-
stances are present in suspended formoThis is a typical
feature of urban wastewater, where most of the pollution
is organic. Some exceptions (samples 12 and 13) point to
the presence of soluble oxygen-demanding compounds.
A statistical analysis provides further confirmation of
such trends. A multivariate statistical analysis consisting
of correlation analysis between variables [15] was carried
out. As a result, a correlation matrix with the parameters
concerned was developed and the matrix indices illustrate
the association between the parameters under study (Ta-
ble 2).

300

250

200

150

100

50

o
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61
Samp1e number

~ lntensity(mWcm-2) -Transmittance (%) -'-COD (mg1-1)-M-TSS (mg 1-1)

FIGURE 1- Values of emitted UV-intensity (mW/cmz), associated transmittance (%) and influent quality parameters,
total suspended solids (TSS, mgIL) and chemical oxygen demand (COD, mgIL), for the complete sample collection.

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TABLE2 -
Correlation matrix of tbe parameters intensity of radiation,
transmittance, total suspended solids, and chemical oxygen demando

Variables Intensity of radiation Transmittance T.S.S, C.O.D.

Intensity ofradiation 1.00 0.90 -0.72 -0.68
Transmittance 1.00 -0.82 -0.78
T.S.S. 1.00 0.72
C.O.D. 1.00

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40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Transmittance (%)

FIGURE 2 - Emitted UV-radiation vs. transmittance: direct readings (dots) compared

witb reference curve proposed by TROJAN (dashed line) for a standard wastewater influent.

A relationship between the emitted radiation intensity
and transmission is to be expected because the average
influents do not show substantial departures from the
standard empirical curve provided by the manufactureroIn
any case, the optimal correlation indices obtained confirm
the suitability of the approach followed. Figure 2 shows
the empirical curve (corresponding to an average-quality
influent) as a dashed line, together with a dotted c10udfor
direct measurements. A consistent pattem is observed,
although lower transmission is attained in our experiment
(as compared to the ideal Trojan reference) for the same
emitted radiation. This fact may be explained as a conse-
quence of the systematically high TSS effluent values of
the WWTP to which the experimental set-up was con-
nected.
Correlations between transmission and TSS are also
significant, but reflect an opposite trend. This is on1yto be
expected, since the presence of suspended solids in waste-
water screens and scatters UV penetration through the
liquidoAs a result, the microorganisms do not receive the
full intensity of the radiation initially applied.
The fact that similar correlations are also reported for
COD values is due to the predominance of organic waste
in the solids. Figures 3 and 4 show a graphical representa-
tion of the relationships between the transmission and the
values of TSS and CODo The correlation is relatively
small, thus suggesting that TSS is not the only factor
influencing transmission. It can certain1ybe expected that
the aggregation mode (size and shape) of the suspended
substances is also determinant. However, the linear equa-
tions given as an approximation of the link between these
parameters can be used to monitor the quality evolution of
the influent through a direct lamp reading, and thus, to
furnish a simple control means for the operation of the
process.

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90

80

70

60
,-.. o
..!. 50

l I
§
¡..
40

30

20

lO

O
38 43 48 53 58 63 68 73 78 83 88
Transmittance (%)
Y = -I,1185x + 98,688
=
R2 0,6783

FIGURE 3. Transmittance ofUV radiation vs. total suspended sollds.

r I I 180

160 O O
O O
140

120
,-..
100
,§,
O 80
O
U
60

40

20 O

O
38 43 48 53 58 63 68 73 78 83 88
Transmittance (%)
Y = -2,4411x + 239,02
=
R2 0,6015

FIGURE 4. Transmittance ofUV radiation vs. CODo

CONCLUSIONS also reported for CODo Individual wastewater quality,

however, gives rise to unexpected disinfection outputs.
The estimation of UV-radiation intensity received by
the microorganisms in the disinfection of wastewater is an The influence of characteristic indicatorsof water qual-
essential parameter to reach the desired inactivation rateo ity on disinfection performance should deserve further
UV-transmission is inversely correlated with TSS content, investigation. However, provided that the wastewater to
and, in most urban wastewaters, an indirect correlation is be treated remains within standard quality bounds, a sim-

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@ by PSP Volumc 14 - No 4. 2005 Fresenius Environmental Bullctin

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pie correlation can be applied to infer water quality from
UV-readings and inversely. This correlation may prove to
be a helpful control means for the monitoring of disinfec-
tion efficiency.
REFERENCES
[14] APHA (1994). Standard Methods for the examination of wa-
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[15] Hopke, P.K. (1983). An introduetion to multivariate analysis
of environmental data in Analytieal Aspects of Environ-
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J. Wiley & Soo5, lne., New York.

[1] E.P.A. (U.S. Environmental Protection Ageney) (1999).

1
p [2]
Wastewater Technology Faet Sheet: Chlorine disinfection.
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Monarca, S., Feretti, D., Collivignarelli, C., Guzzella, L.,

Zerbini, l., Bertanza, G., Pedrauani, R. (2000) The influenee
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[3] Collivignarelli, C., Bertanza, G., Pedrazzani, R. (2000) A eom-

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[4] E.P.A. (U.S. Environmental Protection Ageney) (1999).

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[6] Darby, J.L., Snider, K.E., Tehobanoglous, G. (1993). Ultra-

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[7] Fail\y, J. (1994). Disinfection of wastewater by ultraviolet ra-

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[8] Baron, J.; Corre, S.; Denis, P.; Dufaut, J.C.; Patris, T.; Prin-
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[11] Whitby, G.E., Palmateer, (1993). G. The effect of UV trans- Esteban Alonso
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Department of Analytical Chemistry
and Technology 27: 379-386. Faculty of Chemistry
University of Seville
[12] Tehobanoglous, G., Loge, F., Darby, J., Devries, M. (1996). CI Virgen de África, 7
UV design: eomparison of probabilistic and deterministie de- 41011 Seville - SPAIN
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Phone: +34-954-55-2858
Fax: +34-954-55-7168
[13] Linden, K.G. and Darby, J.L. (1998). Ultraviolet disinfection
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e-mail: ealonso@us.es
subsequent estimation of ultraviolet intensity. Water Envi-
ronmental Research 70(2): 214-223. FEB/ Vol 14/ No 4/ 2005 - pages 322 - 326

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