Diuron Removal From Wastewater

Diuron is a substituted urea herbicide and is in the family of PSII (photosystem II) herbicides. It’s now proven these chemicals can pose a significant risk to marine and human life and less dangerous alternatives are now generally being used.

However, the effects of diuron and similar herbicides can take some time to disperse. After being broadcast on crops, a proportion ended up in the leachate. Through resultant run-off, this will still appear in watercourses years after application.

Therefore, diuron removal from wastewater is vital.

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What is diuron used for?

Agriculturally, diuron is mainly used as a weedkiller and defoliant. It is a pre-emergence herbicide, so initially functions by preventing germinated seedlings from becoming established. To be effective, it must be present when the weed seeds are germinating. Its secondary use is as a de-foliant, used to aid the harvesting of cotton.

It is also used in commercial land maintenance, and by gardeners to inhibit weed growth on paths and drives.

Other uses are as a mildew inhibitor in paints and varnishes and as an algicide in ponds, aquariums, and in commercial fish production.

Diuron toxicity

In 2022, the EPA published its proposed interim decision (PID) on diuron toxicity.

A PID is part of the EPA’s registration review process for pesticides and agrochemicals and can recommend changes in labelling, application and the FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act) safety standard.

They recommended:
• Terminating all diuron use on food and feed crops with one exception for cotton.

• Terminating all diuron use on non-agricultural sites (like roads and rights of way.)

• Terminating its use as an algicide in commercial fish production.

• Reducing exterior paint application rates for occupational painters using airless spraying and encouraging the use of PPE.

Herbicides wastewater treatment

By far the most environmentally-responsible and cost-effective method of herbicides wastewater treatment is the Nyex Rosalox™ system from Arvia.

Combining the best of electrochemistry and adsorption in a single-step process, Rosalox uses our patented Nyex media. Pollutants are broken down into gas and air with no toxic sludge and no additional tip-ins.

Add to that a process that can be scaled up or down instantly and reliable treatment reactors with no moving parts for reliability, we can demonstrate to you that Nyex Rosalox™ can remove many pollutants down to parts per trillion!

To find out more, why not schedule a conversation with one of our water experts today?

Jerome Budin

Water Treatment Consultant

Book a meeting at your convenience to talk to one of our specialists about your wastewater issues. Or send us an enquiry.

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Does ozone remove Diuron?

Although diuron in water can be removed by ozonation, the process is complicated by using a dangerous chemical in the process. This brings with it additional safety and handling issues (often including respiration equipment) and potentially additional personnel training and staffing requirements.

Does GAC remove Diuron?

GAC can remove diuron by adsorption. Although this is quite efficient, the GAC process itself is very energy intensive, both in terms of making the GAC and then replenishing it when it is spent. For our detailed view on the questionable benefits of GAC, see this article.

How to remove diuron from water

There are several answers to the question of how to remove diuron from water:

One is nanofiltration where the holes in the filter are small enough to let water molecules though but trap the larger pollutants. This is normally a slow process (in terms of throughout) and filters need regular replacement.

Another method is using GAC (granular activated carbon.) This is a highly energy-intensive process with several drawbacks,

Photodegradation is also a possibility where a combination of sunlight and air causes oxidation and hydrolysis. This causes the chemical structure of diuron to break down into less harmful compounds.

The last legacy method is to use ozonation. The ozone is used to oxidise diuron and similar contaminants which are broken down into less dangerous compounds for removal.

However, the most efficient and environmentally-friendly method of removing herbicides in water is the Nyex Rosalox™ system from Arvia Technologies.

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Diuron is a weed killer used to control leaf and moss growth. This contaminant is moderately toxic to mammals and persists in water and can leach to contaminate groundwater. We have treated municipal wastewater contaminated with diuron to below 0.003 µg/L.