Enzymolysis and E² Hydrolysis
Selective biocatalytic hydrolysis for suitable sugars, antibiotics and long-chain molecules. This is an enzyme-assisted conversion route rather than a radical-based AOP.
Explore Enzymolysis →Advanced Treatment for Difficult Industrial WastewaterAdvanced Oxidation
Advanced Oxidation
Technologies
YWT combines radical chemistry, electrochemical treatment, high-energy discharge and catalytic processes to address refractory organics, colour, toxicity and contaminants that conventional treatment cannot reliably manage.
Discuss a Difficult WastewaterView All InnovationsCommon Treatment ObjectiveGenerate reactive species and deliver them where difficult molecules can be transformed.
•OH
LIGHT + CATALYST
ELECTRIC FIELD
SPARK / PLASMA
OXIDANT ACTIVATION
The correct pathway depends on the contaminant, wastewater matrix, required endpoint and lifecycle cost.
CharacteriseIdentify target compounds and matrix effects
ScreenSelect a defensible reaction pathway
TestMeasure conversion and by-products
IntegrateProtect upstream and downstream systems
ScaleEngineer energy, safety and controls
What Advanced Oxidation Means
Advanced oxidation generates highly reactive species capable of attacking compounds that resist ordinary biological or physicochemical treatment.
Many advanced oxidation processes rely on hydroxyl radicals •OH, although ozone, superoxide, singlet oxygen, active chlorine and direct electron-transfer reactions may also contribute. These species attack susceptible bonds and can transform complex organics into smaller, more oxidised products.
Transformation is not automatically complete mineralisation. A treatment stage may remove colour or toxicity while leaving intermediate organic compounds. YWT therefore evaluates parent-compound conversion, COD or TOC change, biodegradability, toxicity and the downstream impact.
AOPs work best as part of a complete treatment train. Pretreatment controls solids and radical scavengers, the oxidation reactor addresses the target, and downstream biology, carbon, membranes or recovery stages finish the required duty.
Simplified Reaction Pathway
From energy input to contaminant transformation
Actual chemistry differs across technologies, but the development logic remains consistent.
01
R
TargetDefine the compound, concentration, load and required endpoint.02
E
ActivateApply light, electricity, discharge energy, catalyst or oxidant.03
•OH
GenerateCreate reactive species within the usable reaction environment.04
R′
TransformAttack susceptible bonds and form smaller or more oxidised products.05
✓
VerifyMeasure conversion, intermediates, toxicity and downstream suitability.Chemistry note: Hydroxyl radical •OH is a short-lived oxidising species. It is different from hydroxide ion OH⁻, which primarily affects pH and alkalinity. Technology claims must use the correct species and a demonstrable reaction pathway.
Core Advanced Oxidation Portfolio
Different energy routes for different contaminants
Each technology has a separate page covering its mechanism, process integration and application boundary.
01 / PHOTOCATALYTIC
Catalytic Oxidation
Light activates a suitable catalyst to generate electron-hole pairs and reactive species near the catalyst surface.
- Refractory organics and colour
- Trace-contaminant polishing
- Controlled catalyst and light interaction
Spark Oxidiser
Controlled local micro-discharges create ozone, UV, radicals and pressure impulses within a specialised reaction chamber.
- Contaminated condensate
- High-strength organic side streams
- Integrated recovery applications
Catalytic Electro-Oxidation
Electrical energy and electrode surfaces drive direct or mediated oxidation of selected pollutants.
- Colour and difficult dissolved COD
- Source-level deactivation
- Electrode and conductivity-dependent treatment
Electrocoagulation with Pulsed-Power Plasma
Electrocoagulation-flotation removes part of the load before plasma-generated reactive species address remaining dissolved organics.
- Textile dyes and colour
- Colloids and suspended matter
- Hybrid separation and oxidation
Plant Integration
The oxidation reactor is one stage of the solution
A technically strong AOP design begins before the reactor and continues after it.
01SegregateKeep the target stream controlled before dilution or uncontrolled mixing.
02EqualiseStabilise flow, concentration, temperature and pH.
03Remove InterferenceControl oil, solids, turbidity, colour or radical scavengers where required.
04ConditionEstablish the pH, conductivity, catalyst, oxidant and gas environment.
05OxidiseApply the selected energy and maintain the validated contact time.
06VerifyConfirm parent-compound conversion, intermediates and acceptance criteria.
07PolishUse biology, carbon, filtration or membranes according to the final target.
08Reuse / DischargeRelease only after complete analytical and safety verification.
Mass-balance principle: A pollutant can disappear from one analytical parameter without being mineralised. The design must establish where carbon, nitrogen, halogens, metals, salts, residual oxidant and sludge ultimately go.
Complementary and Adjacent Technologies
Not every useful innovation is an AOP
These technologies can support or replace an oxidation stage when their mechanism better matches the wastewater.
Activated Aeration
A multi-pathway platform using engineered gas transfer, magnetically assisted activation or algae-assisted oxygenation. Only configurations with demonstrated radical chemistry should be called advanced oxidation.
Explore Activated Aeration →Green Float STP
An integrated sewage-treatment platform combining electrochemical treatment, catalytic oxidation and air-assisted solids separation.
Explore Green Float →Air-Assisted Buoyancy
A physical separation process using fine bubbles to float oil, solids and formed flocs. It reduces the load entering oxidation or biological treatment.
Explore Air-Assisted Buoyancy →Technology Selection
Select by mechanism, not by technology name
ContaminantStructure, concentration, biodegradability, volatility and toxicity.
Water MatrixCOD fractions, TOC, alkalinity, chloride, colour, turbidity and scavengers.
EndpointDeactivation, colour removal, toxicity reduction, biodegradability or mineralisation.
IntegrationUpstream separation and downstream biology, membranes, recovery or discharge.
ResourcesPower, oxidant, catalyst, electrode, air, space, cooling and operator attention.
RiskBy-products, off-gas, residual oxidant, metals, electrical safety and abnormal operation.
Typical Screening Logic
- High turbidity or oil: separate first so radicals are not wasted.
- Light-sensitive catalyst route: confirm UV transmission and optical path.
- Electrochemical route: confirm conductivity, electrode material and chloride chemistry.
- High-energy discharge: establish specific energy at the required conversion.
- Biological treatment downstream: confirm residual toxicity and biodegradability.
- Reuse or membranes: control catalyst, oxidant and organic carryover.
Development and Scale-Up
Evidence defines the application boundary
YWT develops advanced treatment progressively, using measurements at each stage to decide whether and how to scale.
01 CharacteriseRepresentative samples and analytical fingerprint.
02 ScreenReaction pathway and technology compatibility.
03 OptimisepH, energy, dose, catalyst and contact time.
04 DemonstrateConversion, by-products and downstream impact.
05 EngineerReactor, controls, safety and lifecycle cost.
Technical qualification: AOP performance is compound- and matrix-specific. Removal, mineralisation, energy, chemical demand, catalyst or electrode life and scale-up must be established against representative wastewater and agreed acceptance criteria. Laboratory results from another wastewater should not be transferred directly as a project guarantee.
Have a contaminant that conventional treatment cannot reliably remove?
Share the source, flow, full analysis, target compound, variability, present treatment, observed failure and required endpoint. YWT can define the characterisation and technology-screening pathway.
Start an AOP EvaluationAdvanced oxidation is an application-specific treatment approach. Final technology selection and guarantees require representative testing, process integration and scale-up engineering.
