Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents
Biological selenium reduction processes are commonly employed as the best available technology (BAT) for selenium removal; however, as a by-product they produce trace amounts of organoselenium compounds with orders of magnitude greater bioaccumulation potential and toxicity. Here, we assessed buoyan...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-03-01
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Series: | Water Science and Technology |
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Online Access: | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/87/5/1250 |
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author | Jeffrey Thomas Martin Tia Chai Timothy Michael Carter Leshuk Zachary William Young Frank Gu |
author_facet | Jeffrey Thomas Martin Tia Chai Timothy Michael Carter Leshuk Zachary William Young Frank Gu |
author_sort | Jeffrey Thomas Martin |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Biological selenium reduction processes are commonly employed as the best available technology (BAT) for selenium removal; however, as a by-product they produce trace amounts of organoselenium compounds with orders of magnitude greater bioaccumulation potential and toxicity. Here, we assessed buoyant photocatalysts (BPCs) as a potential passive advanced oxidation process (P-AOP) for organoselenium treatment. Using a synthetic mine-impacted water solution, spiked with selenomethionine (96 μg/L) as a representative organoselenium compound, photocatalysis with BPCs fully eliminated selenomethionine to <0.01 μg/L with conversion to selenite and selenate. A theoretical reaction pathway was inferred, and a kinetics model developed to describe the treatment trends and intermediates. Given the known toxic responses of Lepomis macrochirus and Daphnia magna to organoselenium, it was estimated that photocatalysis could effectively eliminate organoselenium acute toxicity within a UV dose of 8 kJ/L (1–2 days solar equivalent exposure), by transformation of selenomethionine to less hazardous oxidized Se species. Solar photocatalysis may therefore be a promising passive treatment technology for selenium-impacted mine water management.
HIGHLIGHTS
Buoyant photocatalysts (as a passive advanced oxidation process) used to treat selenomethionine (SeMet), a bioavailable by-product from biological Se treatment, in synthetic mine-impacted water, to below <0.01 ppb.;
A treatment pathway for SeMet oxidation to Se(IV) and Se(VI) proposed from Se speciation data.;
Solar dose of 1–2 days estimated to remove acute toxicity to Lepomis macrochirus and Daphnia magna.; |
first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:03:39Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-6e4e436994794591b2bd5a78527c7033 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0273-1223 1996-9732 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:03:39Z |
publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
publisher | IWA Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | Water Science and Technology |
spelling | doaj.art-6e4e436994794591b2bd5a78527c70332023-04-07T15:43:04ZengIWA PublishingWater Science and Technology0273-12231996-97322023-03-018751250125810.2166/wst.2023.037037Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluentsJeffrey Thomas Martin0Tia Chai1Timothy Michael Carter Leshuk2Zachary William Young3Frank Gu4 H2nanO Inc., Kitchener, ON N2G 1H6, Canada H2nanO Inc., Kitchener, ON N2G 1H6, Canada H2nanO Inc., Kitchener, ON N2G 1H6, Canada H2nanO Inc., Kitchener, ON N2G 1H6, Canada H2nanO Inc., Kitchener, ON N2G 1H6, Canada Biological selenium reduction processes are commonly employed as the best available technology (BAT) for selenium removal; however, as a by-product they produce trace amounts of organoselenium compounds with orders of magnitude greater bioaccumulation potential and toxicity. Here, we assessed buoyant photocatalysts (BPCs) as a potential passive advanced oxidation process (P-AOP) for organoselenium treatment. Using a synthetic mine-impacted water solution, spiked with selenomethionine (96 μg/L) as a representative organoselenium compound, photocatalysis with BPCs fully eliminated selenomethionine to <0.01 μg/L with conversion to selenite and selenate. A theoretical reaction pathway was inferred, and a kinetics model developed to describe the treatment trends and intermediates. Given the known toxic responses of Lepomis macrochirus and Daphnia magna to organoselenium, it was estimated that photocatalysis could effectively eliminate organoselenium acute toxicity within a UV dose of 8 kJ/L (1–2 days solar equivalent exposure), by transformation of selenomethionine to less hazardous oxidized Se species. Solar photocatalysis may therefore be a promising passive treatment technology for selenium-impacted mine water management. HIGHLIGHTS Buoyant photocatalysts (as a passive advanced oxidation process) used to treat selenomethionine (SeMet), a bioavailable by-product from biological Se treatment, in synthetic mine-impacted water, to below <0.01 ppb.; A treatment pathway for SeMet oxidation to Se(IV) and Se(VI) proposed from Se speciation data.; Solar dose of 1–2 days estimated to remove acute toxicity to Lepomis macrochirus and Daphnia magna.;http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/87/5/1250organoseleniumpassive treatmentphotocatalysisseleniumselenomethionine |
spellingShingle | Jeffrey Thomas Martin Tia Chai Timothy Michael Carter Leshuk Zachary William Young Frank Gu Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents Water Science and Technology organoselenium passive treatment photocatalysis selenium selenomethionine |
title | Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents |
title_full | Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents |
title_fullStr | Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents |
title_full_unstemmed | Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents |
title_short | Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents |
title_sort | photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine impacted effluents |
topic | organoselenium passive treatment photocatalysis selenium selenomethionine |
url | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/87/5/1250 |
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