Advanced Chemical Oxidation Processes
One of the most effective and conventional methods for contaminant removal is chemical oxidation. Specifically, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are frequently used to oxidize non-biodegradable, recalcitrant, and toxic organic pollutants, through in-situ production of reactive radicals. Ozone is another strong oxidant used worldwide to selectively degrade organic pollutants from water.
Ozonation was not practical for many years in Israel due to extreme natural levels of bromide (~2 mg L-1) in lake Kinneret, and the concern of forming bromate, the potential human carcinogen by-product of bromine ozonation. In Israel 2016, however, when 75% of water of the drinking water in Israel was supplied by desalination, the relevance of ozonation became significantly promoted.
Main water resources in Israel (WaTech, Mekorot)
Zucker Lab focuses on novel design approaches for targeted chemical oxidation applications:
1. Novel in-situ chemical oxidation by passive dissolution of ozone gas for remediation of petroleum-contaminated groundwater: development, optimization, and evaluation of the feasibility of such process to replace current groundwater remediation schemes.
2. Catalytic ozonation processes to enhance the removal of ozone-resist pollutants: hybrid systems for efficient mass transfer of ozone to the treated water, and subsequent conversion to reactive radicals.
3. Adsorption-photocatalysis hybrid materials and processes
Experimental set-up for large-scale horizontal-flow laboratory system. General schematic of inlet/outlet and adjustable sampling points. Cell is divided into three sections, where outer sections are filled with gravel and main section is filled with natural sand from contaminated site.
Representative Publications
- 1. Y. Lester, H. Mamane, I. Zucker, D. Avisar; Treating wastewater from a pharmaceutical formulation facility by biological process and ozone – pp. 4349-4356, 2013, Water Research.
- 2. U. Hübner, I. Zucker, and M. Jekel; Options and limitations of hydrogen peroxide addition to enhance radical formation during ozonation of secondary effluents – pp. 8-16, 2015, Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination.
- 3. I. Zucker, Y. Lester, D. Avisar, Y. Weinberger, U. Hübner, M. Jekel, H. Mamane; Influence of wastewater particles on ozone degradation of trace organic contaminants – pp. 301-308, 2015, Environmental Science & Technology.
- 4. I. Zucker, H. Mamane, H. Cikurel, M. Jekel, U. Hübner, D. Avisar; A hybrid process of biofiltration of secondary effluent followed by ozonation and short soil aquifer treatment for water reuse – pp. 315-322, 2015, Water Research.
- 5. I. Zucker, H. Mamane, D. Avisar, M. Jekel, U. Hübner; Determination of oxidant exposure to predict contaminant removal – pp. 508-516, 2016, Water Research.
Our Research
Nanomaterials for water treatment
Development of advanced water-treatment technologies which leverage the reactive and tunable properties of nanomaterials for selectivity toward priority pollutants, cost-efficiency and sustainability
Nanotoxicity
Using model phospholipid bilayer membranes, we fundamentally study interactions of living cells and emerging nanomaterials of different chemical composition, orientation, and morphology
Advanced Oxidation
Practical oxidation technologies for organic contaminant removal from wastewater and groundwater