(91g) Sustainable Treatment Processes of 1,4-Dioxane in Water

For treatment and remediation operations, it is crucial to ensure that contaminants are treated to sufficiently low levels to reduce adverse effects to public health and the environment. Many emerging contaminants may not be completely characterized in terms of their health effects, treatability,  and occurrence. 1,4-Dioxane is an emerging contaminant in water which is currently on the candidate contaminant list 3 (CCL 3). This research aims at evaluating various treatment processes for 1,4-dioxane, and analyzing the the treatment processes through a life cycle and green metrics approach.

1,4-Dioxane is a solvent frequently found in ground water. Due to its physical and chemical properties, it is recalcitrant and mobile in the environment. The compound is classified as a likely carcinogen by the EPA. An analytical method has been developed to quantify 1,4-dioxane in water using solid phase micro-extraction with a gas chromatograph-flame ionization detector. Treatability studies are currently underway, and include various advanced oxidation techniques, UV photolysis, ozonation, and adsorption to activated carbon and resins.

This research is exploring the sustainability of these treatment processes used to treat 1,4-dioxane in water by quantifying different green metrics for each process including: water used, hazardous waste generated, energy consumed, global warming potential, and material composition and acquisition. The results will ultimately determine which treatment process is effective as well as sustainable. This general approach can be applied to treatment processes for other contaminants of concern as a means of evaluating the overall sustainabilty.