Newton Fund - Novel UV-assisted catalytic process for the treatment of Brazil wastewater and reuse

In 2007, per capita water availability in Brazil reached 43,027 m3 per year, above the world average of 8,209
m3 per capita in the same year. However the distribution is very uneven with major Coastal cities such as Rio
de Janeiro, São Paulo and Recife suffer effects of upstream residential and industrial sewage contaminating
feeder rivers, lakes, and the ocean. In 2000, only 35% of collected wastewater received any treatment. This
project is the development and roll-out of a ost effective, low energy UK innovative technology solution to
wastewater treatment and water reuse to an established Brazilian Wastewater treatment company. The
technology to be developed is to add UV assistance to a catalytic mesh oxidation process in a novel reactor
design to degrade recalcitrant pollutants, e.g. surfactants, petrochemicals and pesticides. Environmentally
friendly hydrogen peroxide is used at room temperature in the process to oxidise pollutants to harmless
biodegradeable organic acids or carbon dioxide and water. Treatment duration will be optimised to meet the
requirements of the specific water reuse.