New wastewater treatment technologies are a necessity as a result of increasingly stringent discharge standards, particularly concerning viruses. The traditional approach to wastewater treatment consists of biological treatment, such as trickling filters, biofilms, and activated sludge. Although these biological processes have been an adequate means of wastewater treatment, they are intrinsically limited by their biological nature. A magneto-chemical process, known as CoMag™, has been developed to improve coagulation and solids separation and expand upon conventional wastewater treatment techniques.

The research objective of this project was to develop and evaluate a bench-scale model of the CoMag™ process for the removal of MS2, poliovirus type 1, rotavirus strain Wa, and adenovirus type 2 from secondary effluent wastewater, at 24°C and 4°C. Additionally, the removal of MS2 was assessed using a 100 gpm CoMag™ pilot plant. The results indicate that there was a statistically significant difference (when α=0.050) in the removal of MS2, when magnetite is added, versus when magnetite is not added. In addition, results suggest that MS2 was removed more effectively using the bench-scale model then the 100 gpm pilot plant. Employing the bench scale model, the mean Log Reduction Value for MS2, poliovirus type 1, rotavirus strain Wa and adenovirus type 2 was 2.9182, 3.3893, 3.5313, and 3.482 respectively. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference in the removal of MS2, rotavirus strain Wa, and adenovirus type 2 at 24° and 4°C. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in the removal or poliovirus type 1 at 24° and 4°C.

This research demonstrates that the CoMag™ process has the ability to achieve > 2 log removal of MS2 and >3 log removal of poliovirus type 1, rotavirus strain Wa and adenovirus type 2. Therefore, the CoMag™ process has the potential to aid wastewater and water treatment facilities meet their more stringent water quality permits.