A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospect, 31, Moscow 119071, Russia.
Environ Sci Technol. 2020 May 5;54(9):5331-5344. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00545. Epub 2020 Apr 17.
During the prebiotic era, radiolytic transformations in the oceans played a key role in purifying water from toxic impurities and, thus, played a role in the formation of the aquatic environment of our planet, making it suitable for the emergence of life. Today, the planet again faces the challenge of how to provide people with clean water. Therefore, it is reasonable to look back at past historical stages and again consider the possibility of neutralizing pollutants in water by means of radiolysis, which has already been tested by time. Modern radiolytic treatments can be much faster and safer thanks to the advent of powerful electron accelerators and high-rate electron beam treatment (ELT) of water and wastewater. Radiolytic treatment of water using accelerated electrons corresponds to the essence of advanced oxidative technologies and green chemistry. The ELT of water instantly generates a high concentration of short-lived radicals that can quickly neutralize and decompose chemical and bacterial pollutants. Due to the ability of accelerated electrons to penetrate into a substance, ELT provides the decomposition of both dissolved and suspended pollutants. The cleaning effect of ELT is due to the ability to inactivate toxic and chromophore functional groups, transform impurities into an easily removable form, damage the DNA of microorganisms and their spore forms, and increase the biodegradability of organic impurities. The use of ELT in water treatment provides significant savings in chemical reagents, thereby improving quality and reducing the number of cleaning steps. The compactness, high degree of automation of the equipment used, energy efficiency, high productivity, and excellent compatibility with traditional water treatment methods are important advantages of ELT. Unlike conventional chemicals, the excess radicals generated in the ELT process are converted back to water and hydrogen; thus, the chemical and corrosive activity of water does not increase. Equipping research institutes with electron accelerators, developing cheaper accelerators, and granting government support for pilot projects are key conditions for introducing ELT into water treatment practice.
在原生代，海洋中的放射化学变化在净化水中的有毒杂质方面发挥了关键作用，从而在形成我们星球的水生环境方面发挥了作用，使其适合生命的出现。今天，地球再次面临如何为人们提供清洁水的挑战。因此，回顾过去的历史阶段并再次考虑通过已经过时间检验的放射化学来中和水中污染物的可能性是合理的。由于强大的电子加速器的出现以及对水和废水的高速电子束处理（ELT），现代放射化学处理可以更快、更安全。使用加速电子对水进行放射化学处理符合先进氧化技术和绿色化学的本质。加速电子对水的 ELT 瞬间产生高浓度的短寿命自由基，这些自由基可以快速中和和分解化学和细菌污染物。由于加速电子能够穿透物质，ELT 提供了对溶解和悬浮污染物的分解。ELT 的清洁效果归因于使有毒和生色官能团失活、将杂质转化为易于去除的形式、破坏微生物及其孢子形式的 DNA 以及提高有机杂质的生物降解性的能力。ELT 在水处理中的使用可显著节省化学试剂，从而提高水质并减少清洁步骤的数量。设备的紧凑性、高度自动化、能源效率、高生产率以及与传统水处理方法的出色兼容性是 ELT 的重要优势。与传统化学品不同，ELT 过程中产生的多余自由基会转化回水和氢；因此，水的化学和腐蚀性活性不会增加。为研究机构配备电子加速器、开发更便宜的加速器以及为试点项目提供政府支持是将 ELT 引入水处理实践的关键条件。
