Atrazine Removal using Ozone and GAC: A Pilot-Plant Study

A two–week study was conducted using the Lincoln (Nebraska) Water System\u27s pilot-plant facilities. Atrazine–spiked water was treated using ozonation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption. Ozone effectively oxidized atrazine, and a reduction in the concentration of the parent compound of more than 80% was observed using an ozone dosage of only 3 mg/L. Ozonation was less effective when the ozone was quenched immediately by passing the water through an anthracite filter. Measurable quantities of deethylatrazine and deisopropylatrazine were produced, indicating that the atrazine was not being mineralized. Fresh GAC columns effectively adsorbed both atrazine and its measured decomposition products, but their ability to do so over an extended period of time was not examined