Two-Stage Optimization of Coliforms, Helminth Eggs, and Organic Matter Removals from Municipal Wastewater by Ozonation Based on the Response Surface Method

In this study, a set of municipal wastewater (MWW) samples from an actual residual water treatment plant was treated by ozone. The residual water was characterized in terms of organic load and biological contaminants: total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC) and helminth eggs (HE). Initial values of these parameters were 2.8 × 10⁷ MPN/100 mL, 8.48 × 10⁶ MPN/100 mL, and 470 L⁻¹, respectively. The experimental setup considered the modification of pH and ozone dose as independent variables. Three different initial pH values (4.0, 7.0, and 11.0) and three different ozone concentrations (6, 15, and 30 mg/L) were used to investigate the pH ozone dose effect. The efficiency of ozone-based treatment was determined by the reduction of the microbiological indicators (TC, FC, and HE) and physicochemical parameters (COD and turbidity). The response surface method was used to determine suboptimal reaction conditions. These conditions were obtained using a two-stage procedure. The conditions under which both microbiological and organics were better removed corresponded to pH 7.8 and ozone concentration of 15.5 mg/L. A decline of biological indicators of 99% for TC, 99% for FC, and 99% for HE was obtained under the same reaction conditions. The reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity was 75% and 85% under the same operation conditions, respectively.