Removal of non-specific dissolved organic matter from upland potable water supplies—II. Ozonation and adsorption

Ozone has traditionally been used in the U.K. for the removal of organic colour from upland raw waters concomitantly converting the composite organic compounds to lower molecular weight, more biodegradable organic acids. However, ozonation has substantially no effect on the dissolved organic compound concentrations and, although the organic removal efficiencies of GAC filtration processes are generally improved due to enhanced biological removals, ozonation typically results in a deterioration of the organics adsorption. Consequently, this paper investigates the effect of preozonation on the organics adsorption efficiencies of activated carbon, activated alumina, activated bauxite and bone char adsorbents.