The removal of natural organic matter (NOM) from raw water contributes to lower
disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation. NOM can be mineralized by using advanced
oxidation processes (AOPs), such as vacuum-UV radiation (VUV), UV radiation plus H2O2
(H2O2/UV), or VUV radiation plus H2O2 (H2O2/VUV) processes. Experimental work with the
H2O2/UV process showed that 42% mineralization of NOM could be achieved after treating raw
water samples for 180 minutes. A much faster mineralization rate was observed with the VUV
process, providing 90% mineralization of the organic matter after 120 minutes of irradiation.
Also, a slightly greater mineralization was obtained with the H2O2/VUV process. The overall
quantum yields of the NOM mineralization with the H2O2/UV, VUV, and H2O2/VUV processes
were 0.004, 0.097, and 0.016, respectively. Includes 14 references, figures.