Ozone and quaternary wastewater treatment in focus at IFAT Munich 2026
IFAT Munich 2026, held from 4 to 7 May 2026 in Germany, brought together the international environmental technology sector to address current challenges in water management, wastewater treatment and resource recovery.
Longking EnTech Europe participated in IFAT Munich 2026, highlighting its ozone generation and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technologies for municipal and industrial water treatment applications.
One of the key technical subjects addressed in the company's participation was the growing relevance of ozone treatment for micropollutant removal, particularly in the context of Europe's revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the development of quaternary treatment processes.
Ozonation is among the technologies that can be considered for removing selected organic micropollutants from treated wastewater. However, its effectiveness depends on the characteristics of the wastewater, the target compounds, ozone dose, reaction conditions and the management of potential transformation products and by-products.
Longking's approach focuses on integrating ozone generation with appropriate process engineering, gas–liquid transfer, hydraulic design, automation and operational safety.
Alongside ozone, the company's UV disinfection portfolio addresses complementary treatment requirements, including microbial control and water reuse applications.
How does the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive affect micropollutant removal?
The revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (Directive EU 2024/3019), which entered into force on 1 January 2025, introduces new requirements for the removal of organic micropollutants from urban wastewater.
One of its most significant developments is the progressive implementation of quaternary wastewater treatment, an additional treatment stage designed to reduce substances that are not sufficiently removed by conventional wastewater treatment processes.
These micropollutants include certain pharmaceutical residues, compounds associated with personal care products and other trace organic substances that may affect aquatic ecosystems even at low concentrations.
Which wastewater treatment plants will require quaternary treatment?
Under Article 8 of Directive (EU) 2024/3019, quaternary treatment requirements will be progressively implemented for urban wastewater treatment plants treating loads of 150,000 population equivalents (p.e.) or more, according to the following deadlines:
31 December 2033: 20% of the relevant wastewater treatment plants.
31 December 2039: 60% of the relevant wastewater treatment plants.
31 December 2045: All relevant wastewater treatment plants.
These percentages represent phased implementation obligations for Member States, not partial treatment requirements for individual plants.
The Directive also establishes a risk-based approach for urban agglomerations of 10,000 p.e. or more, where quaternary treatment may be required depending on the environmental or public health risks associated with micropollutant discharges.
Does the EU Directive require ozone treatment?
The Directive establishes treatment performance requirements rather than prescribing ozone as the mandatory technology.
Ozonation is one of the technological options that can be evaluated for micropollutant removal, alongside other advanced treatment solutions such as activated carbon adsorption.
Technology selection must consider the target micropollutants, wastewater characteristics, required removal performance, potential transformation products and by-products, operating costs and integration with existing treatment infrastructure.
What does this mean for European wastewater treatment projects?
For utilities, engineering companies and wastewater treatment operators, the revised Directive creates a long-term framework for planning advanced treatment investments.
Projects should progressively evaluate:
The micropollutants present in the wastewater and the applicable treatment objectives.
The suitability of ozonation, activated carbon or combined treatment processes.
Required treatment capacity and available hydraulic infrastructure.
Energy consumption, operating costs and maintenance requirements.
Process monitoring, automation and performance verification.
Potential transformation products and by-product management.
Compliance with national implementation requirements and applicable deadlines.
The transition towards quaternary treatment represents an important opportunity to modernize wastewater treatment infrastructure, provided that the selected technologies are supported by appropriate process design and site-specific evaluation.
How does ozone remove micropollutants from wastewater?
Ozonation is an established advanced treatment technology for reducing selected organic micropollutants in municipal and industrial wastewater. It is one of the options available for quaternary wastewater treatment, particularly when conventional biological treatment does not adequately remove certain trace organic contaminants.
Ozone reacts with susceptible chemical structures within organic molecules. Depending on the water chemistry and operating conditions, hydroxyl radicals may also contribute to oxidation reactions.
However, micropollutants have different chemical properties and react with ozone at different rates. Consequently, ozonation does not provide the same removal efficiency for every compound, and the treatment process must be designed according to the actual wastewater characteristics and treatment objectives.
Which parameters determine micropollutant removal efficiency?
The effectiveness of ozonation depends on several interacting factors:
Target micropollutants: Different pharmaceutical residues and other organic compounds exhibit different reactivity towards ozone and hydroxyl radicals.
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC): Organic matter competes for oxidants and influences the ozone demand of the wastewater.
Water chemistry: pH, nitrite, bromide and other constituents can influence oxidation reactions and potential by-product formation.
Applied ozone dose: Ozone dosage must be selected according to the characteristics of the wastewater and the required treatment performance.
Gas–liquid transfer: Efficient ozone dissolution is essential to make the generated ozone available for oxidation.
Contact conditions: Hydraulic behaviour, mixing and effective reaction time influence treatment performance.
Process monitoring: Appropriate instrumentation and control help maintain stable operation under changing wastewater conditions.
For these reasons, ozone generator capacity alone is not sufficient to determine micropollutant removal performance.
Why are ozone dose and contact time important?
A properly designed ozonation process must deliver sufficient oxidant exposure to achieve the required treatment objectives.
The necessary ozone dose depends not only on the target compounds but also on the substances present in the wastewater that consume ozone.
Contact chamber design is equally important. Poor hydraulic distribution, short-circuiting or insufficient gas–liquid transfer can reduce treatment performance even when the installed ozone generation capacity appears adequate.
Laboratory testing, pilot studies and process modelling can support the selection of appropriate design conditions, particularly for complex wastewater matrices or demanding treatment objectives.
What about transformation products and biological post-treatment?
Ozonation can transform organic micropollutants into other compounds without necessarily achieving their complete mineralization.
The process can also generate oxidation by-products. Particular attention should be given to bromate formation when bromide is present, as well as other potential transformation products and by-products associated with the wastewater composition.
Depending on the application, ozonation may be combined with downstream biological treatment, such as biologically active filtration, to further treat biodegradable oxidation products.
However, biological post-treatment should not be assumed to remove every oxidation by-product. Specific risks, including bromate formation, must be assessed during process design.
The selection of ozonation as a quaternary treatment technology must therefore consider micropollutant removal, by-product management, downstream treatment and overall effluent quality.
Is ozonation suitable for every wastewater treatment plant?
Not necessarily.
Ozonation can be a highly relevant solution for many quaternary treatment projects, but its technical and economic suitability must be assessed individually.
In some cases, activated carbon adsorption or a combination of treatment processes may provide a more appropriate solution.
The objective is to select a treatment configuration capable of meeting the required performance while managing operating costs, energy consumption, by-products and long-term operational reliability.
How does Longking EnTech Europe engineer ozone systems for micropollutant removal?
Longking EnTech Europe develops ozone generation and treatment systems for municipal and industrial water applications, combining ozone generation technology with process engineering, hydraulic integration, automation and operational support.
For quaternary wastewater treatment, the engineering challenge extends beyond producing the required quantity of ozone. The complete installation must be designed around the characteristics of the wastewater, the target micropollutants, the required treatment performance and the operating conditions of the plant.
At IFAT Munich 2026, Longking highlighted its approach to integrated ozonation systems, supported by its NLO ozone generation technology and experience in municipal and industrial water treatment projects.
From wastewater assessment to ozone system design
A technically sound ozonation project begins with understanding the treatment requirements.
Depending on the project, the engineering assessment may include:
Wastewater flow and expected operating variations.
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrite, bromide and other relevant water quality parameters.
Target micropollutants and required removal performance.
Ozone demand and preliminary dosage evaluation.
Laboratory or pilot testing when needed to validate treatment assumptions.
Available contact volume, hydraulic conditions and installation constraints.
Potential oxidation by-products and downstream treatment requirements.
These parameters establish the basis for selecting the ozone generation capacity and defining the appropriate treatment configuration.
Integrated ozone generation and process engineering
Longking's NLO ozone generator series provides a modular platform for municipal and industrial installations requiring continuous ozone production and flexible integration into complete treatment plants.
Depending on the specific project, the ozonation system can incorporate:
Oxygen supply from LOX or PSA, or treated dry-air feed.
Modular NLO ozone generators and power supply units.
Cooling systems and heat exchangers.
Ozone injection or diffusion equipment.
Contact chambers and hydraulic optimization, including CFD studies where appropriate.
Off-gas collection and ozone destruction.
Ozone concentration measurement and relevant process instrumentation.
Ambient ozone detection and safety interlocks.
PLC-based automation, HMI and SCADA integration.
The objective is to engineer the different components as one coordinated process, ensuring that ozone generation, gas–liquid transfer, hydraulic conditions and process control are compatible with the required treatment objectives.
Supporting projects from engineering to operation
Longking EnTech Europe supports customers and engineering partners throughout the project lifecycle, including technical assessment, equipment selection, engineering, manufacturing coordination, factory testing, commissioning and after-sales support.
For micropollutant removal projects, this approach allows the ozone installation to be adapted to the existing wastewater treatment infrastructure and the operational requirements of the plant.
Where required, process monitoring and remote diagnostic capabilities can support performance evaluation and preventive maintenance.
Ozone generation capacity alone does not guarantee micropollutant removal performance. The final treatment result must be supported by appropriate process design, water quality assessment and verification against the project's applicable requirements.
For further technical information, explore our industrial and municipal ozone generation systems.
How do ozone and UV technologies support advanced wastewater treatment?
Longking EnTech Europe's water treatment portfolio includes both ozone generation systems and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technologies, addressing different treatment objectives in municipal and industrial applications.
Although both technologies can form part of advanced wastewater treatment strategies, their functions should be clearly differentiated.
Ozone for micropollutant removal and advanced oxidation
Ozonation can be used as an advanced treatment stage to reduce selected organic micropollutants that are not adequately removed by conventional wastewater treatment.
Its effectiveness depends on the target compounds, water quality, ozone dose, gas–liquid transfer and reaction conditions.
For quaternary treatment applications, ozonation may be combined with downstream biological filtration or other treatment processes, depending on the characteristics of the wastewater and the required effluent quality.
The engineering objective is to achieve the necessary treatment performance while controlling energy consumption, process stability and potential oxidation by-products.
UV disinfection for microbial control and water reuse
UV disinfection addresses a different objective: the inactivation of microorganisms through ultraviolet irradiation.
Longking's UV portfolio includes open-channel and closed-vessel systems for municipal wastewater, industrial process water and water reuse applications.
UV system selection depends on flow, UV transmittance, water quality, required disinfection performance and hydraulic conditions.
Conventional UV disinfection should not be presented as equivalent to ozonation for micropollutant removal. UV-based advanced oxidation processes are a separate application that requires specific process design and validation.
Complementary technologies within a complete treatment strategy
Ozone and UV can be implemented independently or incorporated into a multi-stage treatment process when the project requires different treatment objectives.
For example, an advanced wastewater treatment plant may use ozonation to reduce selected micropollutants and UV disinfection as a separate microbial barrier for water reuse.
However, the combination of these technologies is not automatically necessary or optimal for every installation.
The appropriate treatment configuration must be selected according to the wastewater characteristics, regulatory requirements, treatment objectives and lifecycle cost.
By providing both ozone and UV technologies, Longking EnTech Europe can support engineering partners and plant operators in evaluating different treatment configurations without assuming that a single technology or combination is suitable for every application.
European engineering supported by Longking Group's global capabilities
Longking EnTech Europe combines European engineering, project management and technical support with the manufacturing and research and development (R&D) capabilities of the Longking Group.
This combination allows the company to support municipal and industrial water treatment projects from initial technical assessment through equipment engineering, manufacturing coordination, installation support, commissioning and long-term operation.
European project engineering and technical support
Based in Madrid, Spain, Longking EnTech Europe's engineering and project teams work with utilities, EPC contractors and industrial customers to adapt ozone and UV treatment systems to the specific requirements of each installation.
Depending on the project scope, these capabilities include:
Technical assessment and equipment sizing.
Process engineering and hydraulic integration.
Customized equipment configurations and plant layouts.
PLC, HMI and SCADA integration.
Coordination of engineering documentation and manufacturing.
Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and commissioning support.
Technical training, maintenance and spare parts support.
For projects involving advanced wastewater treatment and micropollutant removal, this engineering approach is particularly important because treatment performance depends on water quality, process conditions and integration with the existing infrastructure.
Manufacturing and R&D capabilities of the Longking Group
Longking EnTech Europe operates within the Longking Group, benefiting from its broader industrial manufacturing infrastructure, engineering resources and technology development capabilities.
These resources support the design and supply of ozone generation and UV disinfection systems for projects of different capacities and technical requirements.
Combining local project coordination with international manufacturing capabilities also supports equipment customization, technical documentation, quality control and lifecycle services.
An integrated approach to advanced water treatment
For European wastewater treatment projects, reliable technology must be accompanied by appropriate process engineering, documentation, operational support and consideration of applicable regulatory requirements.
Longking EnTech Europe's approach is to combine these elements within a coordinated project structure, supporting customers and engineering partners in developing technically appropriate solutions for each installation.
This integration of European engineering and global industrial capabilities formed part of the company's positioning at IFAT Munich 2026, particularly for ozone-based advanced treatment and municipal wastewater applications.
What engineering priorities did Longking highlight at IFAT Munich 2026?
Longking EnTech Europe's participation at IFAT Munich 2026 provided an opportunity to present its ozone generation and UV disinfection technologies in the context of Europe's evolving water treatment requirements.
A central theme was the role of advanced ozonation in quaternary wastewater treatment, particularly for projects evaluating the removal of organic micropollutants and the modernization of existing treatment infrastructure.
Integrating quaternary treatment into existing wastewater plants
For many wastewater treatment operators, implementing advanced treatment involves adapting existing facilities rather than constructing entirely new plants.
This creates several engineering challenges:
Evaluating wastewater characteristics and treatment objectives.
Integrating ozone contact systems into existing hydraulic layouts.
Managing available space and installation constraints.
Optimizing energy consumption and operating costs.
Evaluating oxidation by-products and downstream treatment requirements.
Maintaining operational continuity during plant upgrades.
These considerations influence the selection of treatment technology and the configuration of the complete installation.
Moving beyond equipment selection
For advanced wastewater treatment projects, the performance of an ozone installation depends on more than the nominal capacity of its generators.
Feed-gas selection, ozone transfer, hydraulic design, cooling, process instrumentation, automation, safety and maintenance must be considered together.
Longking EnTech Europe's approach combines these elements with project engineering and lifecycle support, helping customers and engineering partners evaluate solutions adapted to their specific treatment requirements.
IFAT Munich 2026 provided an international setting to communicate this approach and highlight the importance of integrated engineering for ozone-based micropollutant removal and advanced water treatment.
Longking EnTech Europe's perspective on quaternary wastewater treatment
The transition towards quaternary wastewater treatment represents an important development for the European water sector, creating new technical and operational challenges for utilities, engineering companies and treatment plant operators.
Longking EnTech Europe considers ozonation one of the relevant technologies for addressing selected organic micropollutants, provided that each application is supported by appropriate process engineering, wastewater characterization and treatment performance evaluation.
The company emphasizes that successful advanced wastewater treatment requires more than installing high-capacity equipment. Ozone generation, gas–liquid transfer, hydraulic conditions, process monitoring, automation and the management of oxidation by-products must be considered together.
Combining the manufacturing and technology capabilities of the Longking Group with European engineering, project execution and technical support enables Longking EnTech Europe to assist customers and engineering partners in developing solutions adapted to their specific requirements.
This approach reflects the company's strategic focus on supporting the modernization of municipal and industrial water treatment infrastructure through technically sound solutions, reliable operation and long-term lifecycle support.
Supporting the future of quaternary wastewater treatment in Europe
The implementation of the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive represents an important development for municipal wastewater treatment, particularly in relation to the removal of organic micropollutants.
Ozonation is one of the technologies available to address these requirements, provided that its application is supported by appropriate wastewater characterization, process design, oxidation by-product assessment and performance verification.
Longking EnTech Europe's participation at IFAT Munich 2026 highlighted the company's focus on combining ozone generation technology with European engineering and the manufacturing capabilities of the Longking Group.
For utilities, EPC contractors and engineering companies evaluating quaternary treatment projects, early technical assessment is essential to identify suitable solutions and avoid unnecessary investment or operating costs.
Planning an ozone-based quaternary treatment project?
Longking EnTech Europe can support the preliminary evaluation of ozone treatment systems using project-specific information such as:
Wastewater treatment capacity and operating profile.
Target micropollutants and required removal performance.
Available wastewater quality data, including DOC, nitrite and bromide.
Preliminary ozone demand and treatment requirements.
Existing contact chambers and available installation space.
Utilities, automation and integration requirements.
Potential downstream treatment and by-product management needs.
The objective is to define an appropriate engineering approach before selecting the ozone generation capacity and associated process equipment.
For further technical information, explore our NLO ozone generation systems and our guide to real ozonation efficiency and system performance.
If you are preparing a quaternary treatment project, upgrading an existing wastewater treatment plant or evaluating ozone technologies for micropollutant removal, contact our engineering team to discuss your requirements.