Ozonation of spent reactive dye-baths: Effect of HCO^-₃/CO²₃^- alkalinity

The effect of carb onate and bicarbonate alkalinity (soda ash buffer as 5,180 mg/L HCO^-₃ alkalinity at pH 7 and as 5,100 mg/L CO²₃^- alkalinity at pH 12) on the ozonation of reactive vinylsulphone dyestuffs in a simulated spent dye-bath has been studied at varying pHs. Adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) formation due to the high chloride content of the effluent and detoxification, which was evaluated in terms of the relative toxicity index I_tox determined from the ED₅₀ values for the marine photobacteria Vibrio fischeri, were also evaluated. Highest total organic carbon (56%), chemical oxygen demand (44%), and UV₂₅₄ (77%) removals were achieved at pH 7 in the presence of HCO^-₃ alkalinity. The fastest decolorization was observed for the case pH 2, the first order decolorization rate constant found as k₆₂₀=0.16 min^-1, closely followed by the pH 12 case with soda ash (k₆₂₀=0.12 min^-1) case. No positive correlation was evident between AOX, whose maximum value (=1.3 mg/L) appeared after 40 min ozonation at pH 7 and decreased to 0.54 mg/L after 120 min treatment, and I_tox, which decreased to 0.16 at t=50 min and increased rapidly thereafter. The I_tox values were more related to color abatement kinetics. The maximum relative toxicity index of I_tox=0.83 occurred after 120 min. It was also established that the presence of alkalinity in the spent reactive dye-bath had no negative impact on the oxidation rates. In contrast, its absence seriously inhibited treatment efficiency. It is speculated that, with added soda ash, the carbonate radicals HCO₃· and CO₃·^-, which are more stable and selective than OH., were produced and promoted the oxidation process.