Keywords
Pollution
Sodium hypochlorite
Quaternary ammonium
Mechanisms
How to Cite
Abstract
One consequence of the current COVID-19 pandemic is the increased use of disinfectants, such as quaternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite. Due to this, an increase in water pollution has been generated, making it necessary to seek solutions to this new problem. This research aims to compare the existing mechanisms to choose the most appropriate remediation for water contaminated by quaternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite based on a bibliographic search. A selection of documents was made for further study, where they were organized through a comparative table and a diagram. From the analyzed results, four methods for water decontamination are presented: (I) photolysis, (II) electro-oxidation, (III) activated carbon, and (IV) membrane contactor. It can be concluded that activated carbon is the best candidate, the most efficient way to decontaminate water due to its characteristics, such as its ability to reuse and adsorb compounds, transforming them into less toxic metabolites.
References
Dewey H, Jones J, Keating M, Budhathoki-Uprety J. 2021. Increased use of disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impacts on health and safety. ACS Chemical Health Safety 29: 27-38.
Ibarguen M, Bernal L. 2008. Establecer la demanda de cloro en el acueducto tribunas córcega de la ciudad de Pereira. Tesis, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia.
Lenntech. 2022. Desinfectantes hipoclorito de sodio. https://www.lenntech.es/procesos/desinfeccion/quimica/desinfectanteshipoclorito-de-sodio.htm
OMS (Organización Mundial de la Salud). 2022. Preguntas y respuestas re la limpieza y desinfección de superficies del entorno inmediato en el contexto de la COVID-19 fuera del ámbito sanitario. https://www.who.int/es/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/q-a-considerationsfor-the-cleaning-and-disinfection-of-environmental-surfaces-in-the-context-of-covid-19-in-non-health-care-settings
Rodriguez I. 2020. Ecotoxicólogo: “El uso de amonio cuaternario y cloro al aire libre genera efectos negativos en el medio ambiente, y nulo efecto desinfectante”. El Mostrador 3 de junio de 2020.
Subpiramaniyam S. 2021. Outdoor disinfectant sprays for the prevention of COVID-19: Are they safe for the environment? Science of The Total Environment 759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144289
Tchobanoglous G, Burton FL, Stensel HD, Metcalf & Eddy. 2003. Wastewater engineering: treatment and reuse. McGraw-Hill Ed., Boston, USA.
Wieck S, Olsson O, Kümmerer K. 2018. Not only biocidal products: Washing and cleaning agents and personal care products can act as further sources of biocidal active substances in wastewater. Environment International 115: 247-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.03.040
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.