1,4-Dioxane Wastewater Treatment | 1,4-Dioxane Removal From Water

1,4-Dioxane is an emerging contaminant sometimes found in our water. It is a solvent stabiliser commonly used in a variety of industrial processes.

In the US, the EPA considers 1,4-Dioxane to be a potential carcinogen and research has shown that this chemical readily penetrates the skin, meaning it is important that it’s removed from drinking water.

Our Nyex Ellenox is very effective at 1,4-Dioxane removal from water.

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1,4-Dioxane Removal From Water

1,4-Dioxane Removal From Water

1,4-Dioxane is very persistent in nature and does not easily biodegrade in the environment. The substance is not banned but is strongly regulated by some governments based on being a potential human carcinogen.

It is not easy to remove using conventional methods, such as RO and even GAC does not work because Dioxane does not adsorb. However, our Nyex Ellenox is a finely tuned electrochemical oxidation system and it is extremely effective at 1,4-Dioxane removal from water.

What we achieved

A client’s wastewater had a concentration of 1800mg/L of 1,4-dioxane. Our Nyex Ellenox system reduced it to 0.009mg/L.

Nyex Ellenox

What is 1,4-Dioxane

1,4-Dioxane is a cyclic ether. It’s a colourless liquid with a faint, pleasant odour. It is miscible with water, oils, and most organics. It is highly flammable and may form dangerous peroxides when exposed to air and sunlight.

1,4-Dioxane is used in the production of varnishes, detergents, adhesives, cosmetics and polishing products, the pulping of wood, as an extraction medium for animal and vegetable oils, as a laboratory chemical and for the production of insecticides.

It is an industrial chemical which is commonly used as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents. As a by-products of certain chemical manufacturing processes it can be found in some consumer products, including personal care products and household cleaners.

1,4-Dioxane is a biproduct during the manufacture of organics, such as polymers and alcohol ethoxylates. As a result, it may be found as a contaminant in consumer products like plastics, detergents, and cosmetics.

1,4-Dioxane in water

1,4-Dioxane can may enter drinking water through leaching of historic pollution into watercourses and rivers.

Some manufacturing of cosmetics like shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath and hair relaxers, the process involves ethoxylation – the process of reacting ethylene oxide with other chemicals to make them less harsh. This leaves trace amounts of both 1,4-Dioxane and ethylene oxide – both toxic contaminants thought to be carcinogenic.

1,4-Dioxane hazards

1,4-Dioxane toxicity is such that it is prohibited for use in cosmetics in Canada. However in the US, the FDA does not require 1,4-Dioxane to be listed on ingredient labels because it is a ‘contaminants of manufacturing’.

Research shows that 1,4-Dioxane readily penetrates skin. It’s listed as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and is included on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. It is a highly flammable liquid and vapour, causing serious irritation to the eyes and it may cause respiratory irritation.

According to the CDC in the U.S., 1,4-Dioxane health effects include nausea, drowsiness, headache, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Long-term exposure may result in dermatitis, eczema, drying and cracking of skin and liver and kidney damage.

How to remove 1,4-Dioxane from water

Nyex Ellenox™ carries out 1,4-Dioxane removal from water by electrochemical oxidation. It’s effective and eco-friendly.

Although electrochemical oxidation is not new, Arvia’s experts have greatly improved the efficiency of this process. The advantages over competing processes are:

Lower operational costs – careful selection of materials results in low OpEx
Water treatment without interruption – no harmful chemical dosing and no sludge to deal with;
High removal rates and efficiency

For more information about our water treatment technology:

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Irais Baizabal

Water Treatment Consultant

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Does ozone remove 1,4-Dioxane?

1,4-Dioxane removal by ozone, using reverse osmosis. These systems are reasonably effective initially but as the membranes age, become less so. Replacement requires plant to be taken off-line, leading to downtime. The introduction of hazardous chemicals required to generate the hydroxyl radical leads to stringent safety measures and requires additional staff training.

Does GAC remove 1,4-Dioxane?

GAC (granular activated carbon.) As described elsewhere on this site, GAC is not environmentally friendly, needs a pressurised system to work effectively, requires regular replenishment and, in the case of 1,4-Dioxane removal, is not particularly effective.

Proprietary systems using a resin-based media formulated to adsorb 1,4-Dioxane. These are more effective than GAC but work in a similar fashion. However, the media needs regular replenishing or re-activation with steam, potentially leading to wash-water contamination and high energy use.

1,4-Dioxane regulations

In the US, the EPA has calculated a screen level of 0.35μg/l for tap water based on a 1 in 106 lifetime excess cancer risk, but there is no federal maximum contaminant level set.

There are currently no European or UK guidelines either but 1,4-Dioxane was added to the European candidate list in 2021 and a UK REACH work programme is expected to recommend guidelines in the future.