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Model of Radiation Transmittance by Inorganic Fouling on UV Reactor Lamp Sleeves
Author(s) -
Wait Isaac W.,
Blatchley Ernest R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143010x12681059116491
Subject(s) - fouling , oxidizing agent , chemistry , molar absorptivity , transmittance , absorbance , solubility , zinc , manganese , chemical engineering , alkalinity , materials science , chromatography , membrane , biochemistry , physics , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , optics , engineering
The efficacy of UV disinfection of water depends on the ability of radiation to pass from UV lamps through the quartz sleeves that encase them; the accumulation of metal‐containing foulants on sleeve surfaces inhibits disinfection by absorbing radiation that would otherwise be available for inactivation. In a series of experiments, the composition and quantity of sleeve foulants were studied relative to water chemistry and sleeve transmittance. Findings indicate that iron and calcium dominate fouling, with elevated fouling activity by iron, aluminum, manganese, and zinc. A regression‐based modeling approach was used to characterize and quantify the effects of foulant metals on UV absorbance. The molar extinction coefficient for iron was found to be more than 3 times greater than that of calcium. Iron's relatively high activity in fouling reactions, elevated capacity to absorb UV, and reduced solubility under oxidizing conditions makes it a fouling precursor of particular concern, with respect to potential for sleeve fouling in UV reactors.