Oxidation and reduction applied to water treatment — Putting it into practice

The three previous cases were successively examined:

• the general principles governing oxidation and reduction phenomena, their graphical representation and the classification of reagents by their oxidizing or reducing power [W 2 700] ;

• traditional oxidants such as oxygen and chlorine, as well as chlorine derivatives (chloramines, chlorine dioxide) [W 2 701] ;

• the more powerful oxidants, in particular ozone (which has come into widespread use more recently), the more complex advanced oxidation processes (combining several techniques) still in full development, and the main reducing agents [W 2 702] .

This dossier reviews the various applications of oxidation and reduction in the main areas of water treatment: drinking or process water, effluents (ERU, ERI), depending on the parameters to be corrected. The rules governing disinfection are also applicable to swimming pool water or legionella problems in hot water circuits. The design of reactors and the location of these treatments within the process are also examined.