Removal of trace organic pollutants in drinking water by an integrated ozone micro-nano bubble and granular activated carbon process: From laboratory scale to pilot studies

Yu Ji; Xiudong Feng; Jimin Shen; Jing Kang; Pengwei Yan; Binyuan Wang; Yang Shen; Zhonglin Chen

doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2025.135985

Removal of trace organic pollutants in drinking water by an integrated ozone micro-nano bubble and granular activated carbon process: From laboratory scale to pilot studies

Yu Ji
, Xiudong Feng
, Jimin Shen^*
, Jing Kang
, Pengwei Yan
, Binyuan Wang
, Yang Shen
, Zhonglin Chen

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology
Shandong Provincial Communications Planning and Design Institute

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

An integrated ozone micro-nano bubble (O₃-MNBs) oxidation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption process designed for cold-climate water treatment, which ensures stable and efficient removal of trace organic pollutants (TOPs). Laboratory-scale experiments revealed that the ozone mass transfer coefficient of O₃-MNBs (0.49 min⁻¹) exceeded that of conventional macrobubbles (O₃-MacBs, 0.35 min⁻¹) by 40 %, while generating twice the hydroxyl radical (·OH) yield. Critically, within the investigated pH range (4–10), O₃-MNBs achieved significantly faster ozone dissolution rates than O₃-MacBs. This enhanced mass transfer enabled superior contaminant removal within 10 min, with removal rates reaching 87.4 % for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 72.9 % for atrazine, 80.0 % for norfloxacin, and 84.5 % for oxytetracycline. Notably, O₃-MNBs maintained robust removal efficiency over a broader pH range compared to O₃-MacBs systems. Continuous-flow experiments revealed that the O₃-MNBs/GAC system effects achieved over 98 % TOPs removal while reducing specific energy consumption per milligram contaminant removed. Pilot-scale at a Heilongjiang water plant (240 m³/d) investigations and extended operation (30 days) validated the performance of the integrated process. Under an ozone dosage of 0.24 mg O₃/mg DOC, the system achieved excellent removal efficiency for TOPs, UV₂₅₄ absorbance, and permanganate index (PI). This study demonstrates a path toward cost-effective drinking water quality enhancement via an efficient and sustainable O₃-MNBs/GAC integrated process.

Original language	English
Article number	135985
Journal	Separation and Purification Technology
Volume	382
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.135985
State	Published - 26 Feb 2026
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Activated carbon adsorption
Advanced oxidation
Micro-nano bubbles
Ozonation
Trace organic pollutants

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10.1016/j.seppur.2025.135985

Cite this

@article{e49599c18d1642048106a3aac138a92e,

title = "Removal of trace organic pollutants in drinking water by an integrated ozone micro-nano bubble and granular activated carbon process: From laboratory scale to pilot studies",

abstract = "An integrated ozone micro-nano bubble (O3-MNBs) oxidation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption process designed for cold-climate water treatment, which ensures stable and efficient removal of trace organic pollutants (TOPs). Laboratory-scale experiments revealed that the ozone mass transfer coefficient of O3-MNBs (0.49 min−1) exceeded that of conventional macrobubbles (O3-MacBs, 0.35 min−1) by 40 \%, while generating twice the hydroxyl radical (·OH) yield. Critically, within the investigated pH range (4–10), O3-MNBs achieved significantly faster ozone dissolution rates than O3-MacBs. This enhanced mass transfer enabled superior contaminant removal within 10 min, with removal rates reaching 87.4 \% for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 72.9 \% for atrazine, 80.0 \% for norfloxacin, and 84.5 \% for oxytetracycline. Notably, O3-MNBs maintained robust removal efficiency over a broader pH range compared to O3-MacBs systems. Continuous-flow experiments revealed that the O3-MNBs/GAC system effects achieved over 98 \% TOPs removal while reducing specific energy consumption per milligram contaminant removed. Pilot-scale at a Heilongjiang water plant (240 m3/d) investigations and extended operation (30 days) validated the performance of the integrated process. Under an ozone dosage of 0.24 mg O3/mg DOC, the system achieved excellent removal efficiency for TOPs, UV254 absorbance, and permanganate index (PI). This study demonstrates a path toward cost-effective drinking water quality enhancement via an efficient and sustainable O₃-MNBs/GAC integrated process.",

keywords = "Activated carbon adsorption, Advanced oxidation, Micro-nano bubbles, Ozonation, Trace organic pollutants",

author = "Yu Ji and Xiudong Feng and Jimin Shen and Jing Kang and Pengwei Yan and Binyuan Wang and Yang Shen and Zhonglin Chen",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1016/j.seppur.2025.135985",

language = "英语",

volume = "382",

journal = "Separation and Purification Technology",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Removal of trace organic pollutants in drinking water by an integrated ozone micro-nano bubble and granular activated carbon process

T2 - From laboratory scale to pilot studies

AU - Ji, Yu

AU - Feng, Xiudong

AU - Shen, Jimin

AU - Kang, Jing

AU - Yan, Pengwei

AU - Wang, Binyuan

AU - Shen, Yang

AU - Chen, Zhonglin

PY - 2026/2/26

Y1 - 2026/2/26

N2 - An integrated ozone micro-nano bubble (O3-MNBs) oxidation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption process designed for cold-climate water treatment, which ensures stable and efficient removal of trace organic pollutants (TOPs). Laboratory-scale experiments revealed that the ozone mass transfer coefficient of O3-MNBs (0.49 min−1) exceeded that of conventional macrobubbles (O3-MacBs, 0.35 min−1) by 40 %, while generating twice the hydroxyl radical (·OH) yield. Critically, within the investigated pH range (4–10), O3-MNBs achieved significantly faster ozone dissolution rates than O3-MacBs. This enhanced mass transfer enabled superior contaminant removal within 10 min, with removal rates reaching 87.4 % for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 72.9 % for atrazine, 80.0 % for norfloxacin, and 84.5 % for oxytetracycline. Notably, O3-MNBs maintained robust removal efficiency over a broader pH range compared to O3-MacBs systems. Continuous-flow experiments revealed that the O3-MNBs/GAC system effects achieved over 98 % TOPs removal while reducing specific energy consumption per milligram contaminant removed. Pilot-scale at a Heilongjiang water plant (240 m3/d) investigations and extended operation (30 days) validated the performance of the integrated process. Under an ozone dosage of 0.24 mg O3/mg DOC, the system achieved excellent removal efficiency for TOPs, UV254 absorbance, and permanganate index (PI). This study demonstrates a path toward cost-effective drinking water quality enhancement via an efficient and sustainable O₃-MNBs/GAC integrated process.

AB - An integrated ozone micro-nano bubble (O3-MNBs) oxidation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption process designed for cold-climate water treatment, which ensures stable and efficient removal of trace organic pollutants (TOPs). Laboratory-scale experiments revealed that the ozone mass transfer coefficient of O3-MNBs (0.49 min−1) exceeded that of conventional macrobubbles (O3-MacBs, 0.35 min−1) by 40 %, while generating twice the hydroxyl radical (·OH) yield. Critically, within the investigated pH range (4–10), O3-MNBs achieved significantly faster ozone dissolution rates than O3-MacBs. This enhanced mass transfer enabled superior contaminant removal within 10 min, with removal rates reaching 87.4 % for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 72.9 % for atrazine, 80.0 % for norfloxacin, and 84.5 % for oxytetracycline. Notably, O3-MNBs maintained robust removal efficiency over a broader pH range compared to O3-MacBs systems. Continuous-flow experiments revealed that the O3-MNBs/GAC system effects achieved over 98 % TOPs removal while reducing specific energy consumption per milligram contaminant removed. Pilot-scale at a Heilongjiang water plant (240 m3/d) investigations and extended operation (30 days) validated the performance of the integrated process. Under an ozone dosage of 0.24 mg O3/mg DOC, the system achieved excellent removal efficiency for TOPs, UV254 absorbance, and permanganate index (PI). This study demonstrates a path toward cost-effective drinking water quality enhancement via an efficient and sustainable O₃-MNBs/GAC integrated process.

KW - Activated carbon adsorption

KW - Advanced oxidation

KW - Micro-nano bubbles

KW - Ozonation

KW - Trace organic pollutants

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105021247126

U2 - 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.135985

DO - 10.1016/j.seppur.2025.135985

M3 - 文章

AN - SCOPUS:105021247126

SN - 1383-5866

VL - 382

JO - Separation and Purification Technology

JF - Separation and Purification Technology

M1 - 135985

ER -

Removal of trace organic pollutants in drinking water by an integrated ozone micro-nano bubble and granular activated carbon process: From laboratory scale to pilot studies

Abstract

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Keywords

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