Utilization of Ethylene Glycol: Basic Oxidative Approaches to Wastewater Treatment

An increase in the consumption of de-icing fluids in aviation was noted, leading to a rise in the volume of wastewater containing ethylene glycol (EG) that requires treatment, as EG reduces dissolved oxygen concentration and decreases biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies, such as biological and adsorption methods, are considered; however, these are not always efficient in addressing the issue. Advanced oxidation methods (AOM) based on the use of highly reactive particles – radicals – are recommended. It is concluded that AOM-based processes can be effectively employed for the removal of a wide range of organic contaminants from aqueous solutions, including the destruction of ethylene glycol in water.

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