Advanced Chlorine Photolysis for Carbamazepine Degradation: Tuning Radicals for Dissolved Organics

The use of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for micropollutant removal in wastewater is challenging, given the scavenging effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Chlorine photolysis (UV/Cl) offers unique advantages over conventional AOPs, with wavelength- and pH-dependent generation of reactive species, while being largely compatible with existing disinfection dosing infrastructure. Here, the UV/Cl treatment of carbamazepine (CBZ) was optimized as a test case by varying UV wavelength and solution pH in the presence of humic acid and various types of wastewater DOM isolates (colloidal, hydrophobic, and transphilic). CBZ degradation rates, competitive quenching experiments, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed important wavelength- and pH-dependent trade-offs in the dominant oxidants. At pH 3, CBZ degradation was hindered by DOM due to scavenging of nonselective radicals. At pH 8, ozone formation minimized DOM interference and improved CBZ removal. Shifting to longer wavelengths caused changes parallel to raising the pH. Three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix fluorescence analysis revealed preferential reactivity with fulvic- and humic-like fluorophores during treatment. Microtoxicity bioassays indicated a slight increase in acute toxicity after UV/Cl exposure, and LC–MS identified hydroxylated, epoxidized, and chlorinated transformation products. Results highlight the potential for strategic optimization of UV/Cl to mitigate DOM interference in water treatment.