Pinnacle Ozone Solutions has released Episode 12 of its Pinnacle Academy educational series, Advanced Oxidation of Geosmin Using Ozone and Hydrogen Peroxide. The episode features Chief Science Officer Thoram Charanda presenting the company’s recent bench-scale study on geosmin control in surface water treatment, and is now available on the Pinnacle Ozone Solutions YouTube channel.
Geosmin, along with 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), is one of the most common causes of earthy and musty taste and odor complaints for utilities that rely on surface water sources. Because geosmin typically occurs at nanogram-per-liter levels while the surrounding organic matrix is present at milligram-per-liter concentrations, effective treatment depends on generating enough hydroxyl radicals to reach trace contaminants despite heavy competing oxidant demand.
The study tested a representative surface water matrix spiked with geosmin at concentrations ranging from 72 ng/L to over 1,000 ng/L. Pinnacle characterized ozone demand and decay kinetics, evaluated dose-response across low, moderate, and high geosmin challenges, and compared ozone alone directly against the PEROXONE advanced oxidation process at a 0.4:1 hydrogen peroxide to ozone mass ratio.
The results showed that the natural organic matter in this water promoted enough hydroxyl radical formation for ozone alone to achieve greater than 90% geosmin removal, even at high concentrations. At comparable ozone doses, adding hydrogen peroxide produced only a marginal improvement for this water matrix. The key takeaway is that PEROXONE is not automatically required for effective geosmin control, and the source water chemistry should determine whether the added cost and complexity are justified.
The episode also outlines a practical decision framework for utilities and engineers, weighing peak geosmin loading, downstream ozone residual needs, natural radical promotion in the water matrix, and bromate formation potential. Because source water chemistry varies significantly from plant to plant, Pinnacle recommends bench-scale ozone and AOP testing on a utility’s actual water before selecting a treatment approach.
Pinnacle Academy is Pinnacle Ozone Solutions’ ongoing educational series covering ozone science, water treatment applications, and practical engineering insights for municipal and industrial professionals. Watch the full episode on the Pinnacle Ozone Solutions YouTube channel.
Stay tuned for more.
For more information, visit pinnacleozone.com.
Media Contact:
Hannah Smith
Media Marketing Manager, Pinnacle Ozone Solutions
Hannah.smith@pinnacleozone.com | (646) 251-7770
