This is an award to provide support for a project to study chemical oxidation processes for the destruction of organic contaminants of water. The project involves systematic investigation of oxidation processes that involve the use of ozone, hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation. The investigator plans to address the fundamental principles that are involved in these oxidation processes, characterize the rate at which they occur and determine the reaction mechanisms. She will use the results of these studies to construct mathematical models that can be utilized in engineering design of decontamination processes for water and for treatment of wastewaters. Ozone, hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation have been applied to treatment of water and wastewater without clear understanding of the chemical and physical mechanisms that are involved in their action on organic compounds. This project is expected to provide insights into those processes that will permit better design of processes and systems than is now possible.
