Water treatment is a process aimed at making water safe for various purposes, including drinking, irrigation, and industrial use. One of the methods used in water treatment is ozonation, which involves the use of ozone gas to disinfect and decontaminate water. However, ozonation has some limitations, such as the formation of harmful by-products. To overcome these challenges, water treatment experts have turned to peroxide and water technology.
Peroxide and water technology involves the use of hydrogen peroxide, a chemical compound that contains two oxygen atoms bound together in a single molecule (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizing agent that can effectively eliminate various pollutants, including organic compounds, bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. When hydrogen peroxide is added to water, it reacts with impurities, breaking them down into harmless substances like oxygen and water.
Moreover, hydrogen peroxide is a safe and affordable alternative to other water treatment methods, such as chlorination and ozonation. Unlike these methods, which introduce harmful chemicals and by-products to water, hydrogen peroxide does not leave any residual impurities or toxic substances. When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it only produces oxygen and water, which are harmless to the environment and human health.
Another advantage of hydrogen peroxide is its versatility in water treatment applications. It can be used for disinfection, dechlorination, biological oxidation, and odour control. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pretreatment step before other water treatment methods, such as filtration, membrane separation, or reverse osmosis.
However, like any other water treatment method, hydrogen peroxide has some limitations and considerations. For instance, the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide in water treatment depends on the concentration, pH, and temperature of the water. Moreover, the storage and handling of hydrogen peroxide require proper safety precautions since it is a corrosive and reactive chemical compound.