Experimental and in silico assessment of fate and effects of the UV filter 2-phenylbenzimidazole 5-sulfonic acid and its phototransformation products in aquatic solutions.

Often ingredients of personal care products are present in treated wastewaters, e. g grey water (GW), and are discharged into aquatic systems. Conventional treatment of GW does not fully eliminate micropollutants such as the UV filter substance 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA).

Photodegradation of micropollutants using V-UV/UV-C processes; Triclosan as a model compound.

Non-potable reuse of treated wastewater is becoming widespread as means to address growing water scarcity. Removal of micropollutants (MPs) from such water often requires advanced oxidation processes using OH radicals. OH can be generated in-situ via water photolysis under vacuum-UV (λ<200nm) irradiation.