The work carried out was aimed at assisting oxidative processes, for the treatment of water effluents with organic substances contamination. The methodology employed was consistent with a primary oxidation by the action of ozone (ozonolysis), followed by a photocatalytic oxidation, by the action of photocatalysts activated by ultraviolet radiation.

To check the efficacy of the proposal, an experimental pilot plant was designed to test and evaluate the process under scale conditions, providing as an advance the specificity of the photoactive catalysts by ultraviolet light, in conjunction with an ozone producer as a coadjuvant of the process.

The technological development was verified through a simulation in the prototype with a river effluent with high organic pollution, testing the progress of the process through Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) measurements.

The results obtained showed a high degradation rate of organic matter, above 70%, with a 3rd order reaction kinetics. These values give us an optimistic expectation when it comes to choose a viable treatment for this type of effluent.

Our work was born from the observation of the environmental problems produced in our freshwater sources,by the dumping of organic waste from urban and industrial effluents. These compromise the plant and animal life in these waters and the sustainability to continue using this resource as a source of drinking water.