Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-09-01 Origin: Site
Breaking the "Invisible Pollution" in Sunscreen: An Innovative Solution
Summer is incomplete without sunscreen, but did you know that UV filters in sunscreen can quietly pollute water environments? Among them, dihydroxyacetophenone benzoyl hexanoate (DHHB), a common UVA filter with strong photostability, poses challenges for traditional treatment methods. Conventional chlorine-based systems achieve only 74% removal efficiency, while UV/H₂O₂ systems require 120 minutes to reach 90% efficiency.
However, a recent study by the China National Environmental Monitoring Center introduces an innovative approach: combining ozone oxidation with micro-nano bubble technology to efficiently degrade DHHB. Published in the Environmental Engineering Technology Journal (2024, Issue 4), this solution addresses the limitations of conventional ozone systems.
Why micro-nano bubbles?
∙High specific surface area, enhanced mass transfer efficiency, and superior gas utilization overcome the low mass-transfer rate of traditional ozone systems.
∙Under optimal conditions (25°C, ozone gas concentration of 10.22 mg/L, pH=11), this hybrid technology achieves 87.3% DHHB removal in 60 minutes—2.02 times faster than traditional ozone bubbles.
The science behind the efficiency:
Ozone micro-nano bubbles increase dissolved ozone concentration by 49.3%, boosting ozone exposure by 42.1% within 12 minutes. Ozone utilization rises from 40.2% (traditional) to 78.3%.
Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) generation surges by 70.8%, with quenching experiments showing 65.2% of DHHB degradation attributed to ·OH and 14.9% to superoxide radicals (·O₂⁻).
Key operational considerations:
∙pH: Higher pH enhances degradation (alkaline conditions accelerate ·OH formation and DHHB hydrolysis).
∙Temperature: Rising temperatures reduce ozone solubility (removal efficiency drops by 6.4% at 40°C vs. 20°C).
∙Interfering substances: Natural organic matter (e.g., humic acid) and bicarbonate ions compete with ozone/free radicals, significantly inhibiting degradation at high concentrations.
This study validates the feasibility of ozone micro-nano bubbles for DHHB removal, offering a novel approach to tackle emerging pollutants. By balancing environmental protection with consumer needs, this innovation paves the way for sustainable water treatment solutions.
