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THE ENHANCED OXIDATION PROCESS <br /> To help understand enhanced oxidation, it would be useful to <br /> begin by defining simple oxidation so that the difference between <br /> simple and enhanced oxidation can be more easily explained. For <br /> the purposes of this presentation, simple oxidation can be <br /> defined as: <br /> The chemical conversion of a contaminant by means of <br /> a reaction with an oxidant such as Oz , 03 , H2O2 , <br /> or NAOC1, to a benign, more oxidized form, and <br /> ultimately to CO2 and water. <br /> Generalized Reaction: <br /> 02/03/H202/NaOCl 02/03/H202/NaOC1 <br /> Oxygenated _ <br /> X CO2 + H2O (+C1 ) <br /> Intermediates <br /> Where X represents a waterborne contaminant and the multiple <br /> arrows are meant to indicate that the conversion is a multi-step <br /> process, thermodynamics tells us that virtually any organic <br /> contaminant, in the presence of a direct oxidizing source, will, <br /> if given enough time, be fully mineralized to CO2 , H2O, and/or <br /> Cl ( in the case of a chlorinated compound) . However, the <br /> oxidation rates for such direct processes are typically too slow <br /> to be of broad utility for wastewater treatment in the context of <br /> today' s regulatory environment. <br /> In the mid-seventies, a number of reports appeared describing <br /> the enhanced rate of oxidation that was obtained when <br /> contaminated water with either dissolved 03 or H2O2 was <br /> irradiated with ultraviolet (W) light. The principles of this <br /> synergy are now understood and agreed upon in broad terms by <br /> researchers in this field.. <br /> -5- <br />