Author: Ahmad Saylam
Document type: Technical Paper
Year: 2026
Zenodo record: https://zenodo.org/records/19732394
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are widely investigated for the removal of persistent organic contaminants from wastewater, yet their full-scale application remains limited by matrix effects, energy demand, and scale-up challenges. A key difficulty lies in linking intrinsic reaction kinetics to reactor-scale performance under realistic conditions.
This work develops a unified kinetic–process framework that integrates radical generation, matrix-dependent scavenging, and transport phenomena within a system-level description. The apparent first-order rate constant (kₐₚₚ) is interpreted as an emergent parameter governing observable treatment performance.
Analysis of representative wastewater matrices shows that hydroxyl-radical consumption is dominated by dissolved organic carbon and inorganic species, reducing effective radical availability by several orders of magnitude compared to laboratory systems. This explains the discrepancy between intrinsic reactivity and observed degradation rates.
AOP performance is further controlled by coupled kinetic–transport regimes, where mass transfer, radiation attenuation, and hydrodynamics constrain radical availability and lead to non-linear scaling. A dimensionless formulation based on Damköhler, Sherwood, cavitation, Reynolds, and optical thickness parameters provides a consistent basis for interpreting rate-limiting mechanisms.
From an engineering perspective, treatment time and energy demand are inversely related to kₐₚₚ, emphasizing the need for matrix-aware design and process integration. The proposed framework provides a scalable and energy-efficient basis for AOP implementation in wastewater treatment.
PDF link will be activated after the final PDF is uploaded: aop-kinetic-process-framework.pdf
Saylam, A. (2026). A Unified Kinetic–Process Framework for Advanced Oxidation Processes: From Radical Chemistry to Reactor-Scale Performance in Wastewater Treatment. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19732394