Ozone Water Treatment for Taste and Odor Control
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Background
Taste and odors found in drinking water can be from inorganic or organic sources. Iron and hydrogen sulfide are two
common inorganic compounds known to produce odors in drinking water. Both are easily treated via oxidation. Organic
compounds are normally the result of life processes of micro organisms and are often found in nanograms (ng)/l
concentrations. Organically derived tastes and odor tend to be seasonal with most of the issues arising in summer
months from impounded water. Two noteworthy compounds are geosim and MIB (taste and odor thresholds of 6 and 10
ng/l). There are other types of odor causing compounds such as those from industrial pollution and by-products from
the drinking water treatment process itself. The latter is most notably caused by the reaction of chlorine or chloramines
with materials found in the water.
Treatment form taste and odor can be carried out by both oxidative and non oxidative methods. Examples of non
oxidative process include air stripping to remove dissolved gases, powdered activated carbon and granulated activated
carbon. The effectiveness of these methods depends on the specific organic compounds causing the tastes and odors.
In some cases, absorbents such as PAC/GAC might be economical.
Various oxidants have been used with varying success for taste and odor control. Simple aeration may be effective for
iron and hydrogen sulfide depending on pH and, in the case of iron, whether the iron is complexed with organic
compounds. Chlorine is effective in some situation and in other actually creates odors itself or through its by products.
Potassium permanganate at high concentrations is effective against some compounds, but not very effective against the
important compounds geosim and MIB.
Ozone Water Treatment
Ozone used by itself or with peroxide or UV has been found to be effective in removing many taste and odor compounds
including geosim and MIB (1,2,3). In some cases the same levels of ozone used for disinfection are also effective at
removing taste and odor. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California did studies on the use of ozone and
ozone with peroxide and found that with ozone alone dosages of 4 mg/l were necessary to treat pilot plant effluent spiked
with geosim and MIB. When peroxide was added, the ozone dosage was dropped to 2 mg/l (4)
A general discussion of ozone for drinking water treatment and information on ozone generators used for this
application can be found by following the links here to other parts of the this and other websites.
It is believed that ozone is most effective where the formation of hydroxyl radicals is favored and where compounds that
can scavenge these radicals is minimized. Where ozone is a slow and selective oxidant, hydroxyl radicals a natural by
product formed by ozone in water, is a fast and non selective oxidant. Carbonates tend to scavenge hydroxyl radicals
and thus reduce the concentration in the water. Elevated pH, hydrogen peroxide and UV increase the amount of
hydroxyl radicals formed from ozone.
Peroxide is added with ozone when the concentration of Geosim and MIB are particularly high, on the order of hundreds
of ng/l. The first chamber of an ozone contactor, CT credits for disinfection can be earned with additional ozone and
peroxide added in later chambers of the contactor to create condition favorable for hydroxyl radical formation, sometimes
referred to as advanced oxidation conditions. This allows two treatment objectives to be achieved at the same time. The
use of ozone to affect two or more treatment objective is a major reason why it is used.
The effectiveness of ozone is also enhanced if it is followed by biological filtration. Ozone partially oxidizes the geosim
and MIB and the biological filters continue the oxidation. The combination can result in 90-100% removal of these
compounds (5). The explanation for this effect may be that ozone is very effective at taking non biodegradable
compounds and making them biodegradable. This may be what is occurring in systems that employ both ozone and
biological filters, normally the biological filters would not be able to treat the geosim or MIB, but after exposure to ozone
and the presence of the high dissolved oxygen levels the filters become effective.
1. Terashima, K. 1988 Reduction of Musty Odors Substances in Drinking Water-A Pilot Plant Study. Wtr. Sci. Tech. 20:8/9:275.
2. Daniel, P.A. and Meyerhofer, P.F. 1989. Ozonation of Taste and Odor Causing Compounds. 1989. Proc. 9th Ozone World Congress, vol. 1
edited by L.J. Bollyky. IOA, NY. pp. 239-242
3. Duguet, J.P. et al. 1989. Geosim and 2-Methylisoborneol Removal Using Ozone and Ozone/Hydrogen Peroxide Coupling. Proc. 9th Ozone
World Congress, edited by L.J. Bollyky. IOA, NY. pp. 709-719
4. Gramith, J.T., Ferguson, D.W., McGuire, M.J., and Tate, C.H., “Overview of the Metropolitan’s Ozone-Peroxide Demonstration Project,” by
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California with Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA and James M. Montgomery Engineers of
Pasadena, CA, presented at the AWWA Ann. Conference, Cincinnati, OH, June 1990.
5. Nerenberg, R., Rittmann, B.E., Soucie, W.J. 2000. Ozone/Biofiltration for Removing MIB and Geosim. Jour. AWWA, 92:12:85
Download PDF of this Article
Background
Taste and odors found in drinking water can be from inorganic or organic sources. Iron and hydrogen sulfide are two
common inorganic compounds known to produce odors in drinking water. Both are easily treated via oxidation. Organic
compounds are normally the result of life processes of micro organisms and are often found in nanograms (ng)/l
concentrations. Organically derived tastes and odor tend to be seasonal with most of the issues arising in summer
months from impounded water. Two noteworthy compounds are geosim and MIB (taste and odor thresholds of 6 and 10
ng/l). There are other types of odor causing compounds such as those from industrial pollution and by-products from
the drinking water treatment process itself. The latter is most notably caused by the reaction of chlorine or chloramines
with materials found in the water.
Treatment form taste and odor can be carried out by both oxidative and non oxidative methods. Examples of non
oxidative process include air stripping to remove dissolved gases, powdered activated carbon and granulated activated
carbon. The effectiveness of these methods depends on the specific organic compounds causing the tastes and odors.
In some cases, absorbents such as PAC/GAC might be economical.
Various oxidants have been used with varying success for taste and odor control. Simple aeration may be effective for
iron and hydrogen sulfide depending on pH and, in the case of iron, whether the iron is complexed with organic
compounds. Chlorine is effective in some situation and in other actually creates odors itself or through its by products.
Potassium permanganate at high concentrations is effective against some compounds, but not very effective against the
important compounds geosim and MIB.
Ozone Water Treatment
Ozone used by itself or with peroxide or UV has been found to be effective in removing many taste and odor compounds
including geosim and MIB (1,2,3). In some cases the same levels of ozone used for disinfection are also effective at
removing taste and odor. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California did studies on the use of ozone and
ozone with peroxide and found that with ozone alone dosages of 4 mg/l were necessary to treat pilot plant effluent spiked
with geosim and MIB. When peroxide was added, the ozone dosage was dropped to 2 mg/l (4)
A general discussion of ozone for drinking water treatment and information on ozone generators used for this
application can be found by following the links here to other parts of the this and other websites.
It is believed that ozone is most effective where the formation of hydroxyl radicals is favored and where compounds that
can scavenge these radicals is minimized. Where ozone is a slow and selective oxidant, hydroxyl radicals a natural by
product formed by ozone in water, is a fast and non selective oxidant. Carbonates tend to scavenge hydroxyl radicals
and thus reduce the concentration in the water. Elevated pH, hydrogen peroxide and UV increase the amount of
hydroxyl radicals formed from ozone.
Peroxide is added with ozone when the concentration of Geosim and MIB are particularly high, on the order of hundreds
of ng/l. The first chamber of an ozone contactor, CT credits for disinfection can be earned with additional ozone and
peroxide added in later chambers of the contactor to create condition favorable for hydroxyl radical formation, sometimes
referred to as advanced oxidation conditions. This allows two treatment objectives to be achieved at the same time. The
use of ozone to affect two or more treatment objective is a major reason why it is used.
The effectiveness of ozone is also enhanced if it is followed by biological filtration. Ozone partially oxidizes the geosim
and MIB and the biological filters continue the oxidation. The combination can result in 90-100% removal of these
compounds (5). The explanation for this effect may be that ozone is very effective at taking non biodegradable
compounds and making them biodegradable. This may be what is occurring in systems that employ both ozone and
biological filters, normally the biological filters would not be able to treat the geosim or MIB, but after exposure to ozone
and the presence of the high dissolved oxygen levels the filters become effective.
1. Terashima, K. 1988 Reduction of Musty Odors Substances in Drinking Water-A Pilot Plant Study. Wtr. Sci. Tech. 20:8/9:275.
2. Daniel, P.A. and Meyerhofer, P.F. 1989. Ozonation of Taste and Odor Causing Compounds. 1989. Proc. 9th Ozone World Congress, vol. 1
edited by L.J. Bollyky. IOA, NY. pp. 239-242
3. Duguet, J.P. et al. 1989. Geosim and 2-Methylisoborneol Removal Using Ozone and Ozone/Hydrogen Peroxide Coupling. Proc. 9th Ozone
World Congress, edited by L.J. Bollyky. IOA, NY. pp. 709-719
4. Gramith, J.T., Ferguson, D.W., McGuire, M.J., and Tate, C.H., “Overview of the Metropolitan’s Ozone-Peroxide Demonstration Project,” by
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California with Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA and James M. Montgomery Engineers of
Pasadena, CA, presented at the AWWA Ann. Conference, Cincinnati, OH, June 1990.
5. Nerenberg, R., Rittmann, B.E., Soucie, W.J. 2000. Ozone/Biofiltration for Removing MIB and Geosim. Jour. AWWA, 92:12:85
Spartan Environmental Technologies
Air and Water Treatment
Air and Water Treatment
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Spartan Environmental
Technologies, L.L.C.
7383 Lauren J Dr
Mentor, OH 44060
USA
Phone: 800-492-1252
Fax: 440-368-3569
E-mail: info@
spartanwatertreatment.com
Technologies, L.L.C.
7383 Lauren J Dr
Mentor, OH 44060
USA
Phone: 800-492-1252
Fax: 440-368-3569
E-mail: info@
spartanwatertreatment.com