Effect of two different disinfectants on dimensional stability of newer alginate impression materials over five days

The effect of two different disinfectants on the dimensional stability of two alginate impression materials over five days was investigated. 60 impressions were made under standardised conditions, 30 with each alginate, of which ten were disinfected in each disinfectant and ten were controls. Impressions were stored over a period of five days in a container with 100% humidity. Measurements were made between four points. Two-way analysis of variance indicated no differences in the change from baseline to day 5 between any of the combinations of alginate and disinfectant. Only two of the changes between baseline and day 5 reached statistical significance at the p < 0.01 level. Therefore it can be concluded that within the limitations of this study when newer alginate impression materials are disinfected they remain stable over 5 days.

Disinfected so it is safe and works

There has been an upsurge in interest in monitoring the cleanliness of the health care environment as it relates to disease transmission. Cleaning and disinfecting practices are nothing new in health care facilities. However, continued development of analytical medical products such as point-of-care devices or, as in this review, glucose meters, has created potential risks to patients on a number of levels. Examples are (1) inappropriate disinfection of glucose meters so that the risk of disease transmission is increased and (2) cleaning agents potentially affecting glucose reading accuracy. Cleaning and disinfection recommendations have become available to address these issues. In this issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, Sarmaga and colleagues discuss the impact of a disinfecting agent on results generated from a particular device, which suggests that not all equipment are created equal and not all practices/products used to clean and disinfect are the same. It appears that more interaction must take place between vendors of these technologies as well as vendors of cleaning/disinfecting agents and the end users who will be performing all the requisite tasks to ensure a high quality product as well as care.

Dynamics of gas-phase trichloramine (NCl3) in chlorinated, indoor swimming pool facilities

Trichloramine (NCl(3)) is recognized as an irritant of the human respiratory system and other tissues. Processes that lead to volatilization from the liquid phase allow for human exposure to gas-phase NCl(3) in swimming pool settings. The dynamics of these processes are not well defined. A N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine/potassium iodide (DPD/KI)-based wet-chemistry method for measuring gas-phase NCl(3) concentration was verified and applied in chlorinated, indoor swimming pool facilities. Other gas-phase oxidants in the air of indoor pools provided interference of 15% or less. The DPD/KI method was applied for the measurement of gas-phase NCl(3) in four chlorinated, indoor swimming pool facilities. All results showed a correlation between bather loading and gas-phase NCl(3) concentration. The nature of swimmer activities also influenced air quality, presumably because of the effects of these activities on mixing near the gas-liquid interface.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The activities of swimmers promote transfer of volatile compounds from water to the surrounding air. For chlorinated, indoor pool facilities, this can lead to exposure to gas-phase chemicals that can cause irritation of the respiratory system and other tissues. The focus of this study was on NCl(3), a common disinfection by-product (DBP) in chlorinated pools. However, the conditions that promote NCl(3) transfer are likely to promote transfer of other volatile chemicals from water to air. As such, it is possible that other DBPs formed in pools may also contribute to diminished air quality.

Occurrence and control of nitrogenous disinfection by-products in drinking water--a review

The presence of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs), including nitrosamines, cyanogen halides, haloacetonitriles, haloacetamides and halonitromethanes, in drinking water is of concern due to their high genotoxicity and cytotoxicity compared with regulated DBPs. Occurrence of N-DBPs is likely to increase if water sources become impacted by wastewater and algae. Moreover, a shift from chlorination to chloramination, an option for water providers wanting to reduce regulated DBPs such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), can also increase certain N-DBPs. This paper provides a critical review of the occurrence and control of N-DBPs. Data collated from surveys undertaken in the United States and Scotland were used to calculate that the sum of analysed halonitromethanes represented 3-4% of the mass of THMs on a median basis; with Pearson product moment correlation coefficients of 0.78 and 0.83 between formation of dihaloacetonitriles and that of THMs and HAAs respectively. The impact of water treatment processes on N-DBP formation is complex and variable. While coagulation and filtration are of moderate efficacy for the removal of N-DBP precursors, such as amino acids and amines, biofiltration, if used prior to disinfection, is particularly successful at removing cyanogen halide precursors. Oxidation before final disinfection can increase halonitromethane formation and decrease N-nitrosodimethylamine, and chloramination is likely to increase cyanogen halides and NDMA relative to chlorination.

[The influence of two methods of disinfection on dimensional stability of silicone impressions and stone models poured from them]

In this experimental investigation was matched the method of chemical disinfection as more custom and the physical method of microwave energy using the plant with flowing regulation of the power of microwave radiation which calls "micro-UndaDent". We estimated the influence of these two methods on the alteration of dimensional stability of silicone impressions and gypsum casts poured from them comparing to an invariable parameters of metal die.

Deactivation efficiency of stabilized bactericidal emulsions

Biocide emulsions stabilized with various stabilizing agents were prepared and characterized, and their efficiency in bacteria deactivation was evaluated. A number of stabilizing agents were tested for their stabilizing effect on emulsions of thiocyanomethylthiobenzothiazole (TCMTB) biocide. Two agents, the most successful in stabilizing the biocide, were chosen for further studies: high molecular weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) and an amphiphilic block copolymer of poly(caprolactone)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PCL(33)-b-PAA(33)). The emulsion droplet sizes varied between 325 and 500 nm. Deactivation of bacteria was studied by exposing E. coli ATCC 11229 bacteria dispersions to emulsions stabilized by positively charged PEI or negatively charged PCL-b-PAA micelles and by measuring their absorbance; E. coli do not grow with time in the presence of biocide emulsions. PEI molecules alone act as biocide and deactivate the bacteria. PCL-b-PAA micelles as stabilizing agent do not affect the growth of the E. coli ; bacteria are deactivated by TCMTB released from the emulsion droplets. The kinetics of emulsion dissolution studies revealed for both stabilizing agents a decrease in droplet size with time while the emulsions were subjected to dialysis. The biocide was released from the emulsions within ∼250 min; the droplet shells consist mostly of PEI or PCL-b-PAA insoluble complexes with the biocide, which do not dissolve during dialysis. SEM images confirm the presence of residual crumbled shells with holes after 24 h of dialysis.

Modelling inorganic biocide emission from treated wood in water

The objective of this work is to develop a chemical model for explaining the leaching behaviour of inorganic biocides from treated wood. The standard leaching test XP CEN/TS14429 was applied to a commercial construction material made of treated Pinus sylvestris (Copper Boron Azole preservative). The experimental results were used for developing a chemical model under PHREEQC(®) (a geochemical software, with LLNL, MINTEQ data bases) by considering the released species detected in the eluates: main biocides Cu and B, other trace biocides (Cr and Zn), other elements like Ca, K, Cl, SO(4)(-2), dissolved organic matter (DOC). The model is based on chemical phenomena at liquid/solid interfaces (complexation, ion exchange and hydrolysis) and is satisfactory for the leaching behaviour representation. The simulation results confronted with the experiments confirmed the hypotheses of: (1) biocide fixation by surface complexation reactions with wood specific sites (carboxyl and phenol for Cu, Zn, Cr(III), aliphatic hydroxyl for B, ion exchange to a lesser extent) and (2) biocide mobilisation by extractives (DOC) coming from the wood. The maximum of Cu, Cr(III) and Zn fixation occurred at neutral pH (including the natural pH of wood), while B fixation was favoured at alkaline pH.

Efficacy of a novel sanitizer composed of lactic acid and peroxyacetic acid against single strains of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli K-12, Listeria innocua, and Lactobacillus plantarum in aqueous solution and on surfaces of romaine lettuce and spinach

A novel sanitizer composed of lactic acid and peroxyacetic acid (LA-PAA) was developed as an alternative to chlorinated water (CW) for fresh produce processing. Single strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, nonpathogenic Escherichia coli K-12, and Listeria innocua were used to demonstrate the microbial efficacy of LA-PAA. LA-PAA achieved a >7.8-log reduction of L. innocua and L. plantarum suspended in water at 4°C for 20 s, and LA, PAA, and CW achieved reductions of 0.4, 4.8, and 2.7 log, respectively. LA-PAA, when compared with LA, PAA, and CW, enhanced the reduction of L. innocua attached to romaine leaves by >2.2 log, and improved the removal of E. coli attached to spinach leaves by >2.4 log. The exponential improvement in the microbial efficacy of LA-PAA showed synergism between LA and PAA. LA-PAA microbial efficacy was inversely proportional to pH value and directly correlated with residence time and concentration. Despite an improvement in microbial reduction through the addition of surfactant to LA-PAA, the usage of surfactant in washing fresh produce was impeded by excessive foaming during actual processing. Effects of organic matter on the performance of LA-PAA were minimal. External sensory evaluations showed that LA-PAA had no negative effects on the quality of lettuce and tender leaves. Temperature-abuse studies demonstrated that LA-PAA reduced decay by ∼50% when compared with CW. Overall, these results support the premise that LA-PAA has significant potential to be an alternative to CW for fresh produce processing.

Effects of livestock wastewater variety and disinfectants on the performance of constructed wetlands in organic matters and nitrogen removal

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE

Treatment performance of constructed wetlands (CWs) is largely dependent on the characteristics of the wastewater. Although livestock wastewater is readily biodegradable in general, its variety in biodegradability can still be significant in practice. In addition, it is a common practice to periodically use disinfectants in livestock activities for health concerns. Obviously, the residual of the disinfectants in livestock wastewater may have serious inhibitory effect on the microbial activities during wastewater treatment. Thus, the main objective of this study was to examine the variety of livestock wastewater in biodegradability and its effect on the performance of a pilot scale tidal flow CWs (TFCWs) in organic matter and nitrogen removal. Furthermore, investigation of the potential inhibition of the chosen disinfectants on organic matter biodegradation and nitrification was another aim of this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The TFCWs system consisted of four-stage downflow reed beds with a hydraulic loading rate of 0.29 m(3)/m(2)·per day. Long-term stored livestock wastewater and fresh livestock wastewater were used, respectively, as feed to the system in different periods. Meanwhile, batch aeration tests were carried out to investigate the difference in biodegradation of the two types of wastewaters. Inhibitions of two types of disinfectants, namely UNIPRED and HYPROCLOR ED, on microbial activities were investigated in laboratory batch tests, with dosage of from 0.05% to 0.5%.

RESULTS

With fresh livestock wastewater, removal efficiencies of up to 93% and 94% could be achieved with average of 73% and 64% for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and TN, respectively. The performance deteriorated when the system was fed with long-term stored wastewater. In the batch tests, the long-time stored wastewater was characterized as non-biodegradable or at least very slowly biodegradable, while the fresh wastewater was readily biodegradable. UNIPRED showed very strong inhibition on both heterotrophic organisms and nitrifiers. Tested inhibition started from content of 0.05%, which is 1/10 of the recommended usage rate. Inhibitory effect of HYPROCLOR ED on COD degradation started from 0.1% and complete inhibition occurred from content of 0.3%, while significant inhibition on nitrification started from 0.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Livestock wastewater could vary significantly in biodegradability and it may turn to be non-biodegradable after a long-term storage. The variety of the livestock wastewater has a decisive influence on the performance of the CWs system, especially in TN elimination. In addition, the application of disinfectants UNIPRED and HYPROCLOR ED may cause serious inhibition on microbial activities and subsequent system failure.

[Sodium hypochlorite disinfection on effluent of MBR in municipal wastewater treatment process]

Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) used in wastewater disinfection was assessed by examining its performances in lab fed by the effluent from a MBR treatment plant. The influence of sodium hypochlorite initial concentrations (0.5-3.0 mg/L) on the presence of indicator microorganisms (total coliforms, fecal coliforms), disinfection by-products (DBPs) concentrations and the acute toxicity were evaluated. Results indicate the total coliforms and the fecal coliform were 1500-2400 and 10-40 CFU/L, which is difficult to meet the present reclaimed water quality standards. A chlorine dose of 2.0 mg/L and contact for 1 h could achieve a 3 lg indicator bacteria reduction in MBR effluent samples. THMs (trihalomethanes) analysis indicated that concentrations of THMs increase with the raise of the active chlorine dose. After adding sodium hypochlorite 1 h the concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) were 16.22, 7.35 microg/L respectively and chloroform (TCM) accounted for 87% of THMs, the haloacetic acids (HAAs) was involved trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) 2.01 microg/L, dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) 1.58 microg/L and under the national limits. Luminescence bacteria acute toxicity analysis showed that the chlorinated effluent has higher inhibition rate (48%) in comparison to the control with a chlorine dosage of 3.0 mg/L. The results which could provide theoretical basis to production show that NaClO disinfection not only can inactivate microbe with the DBPs and acute toxicity of the effluent under the safety limits, but also meet the requirement of health and safety.

Synergism effects for Escherichia coli inactivation applying the combined ozone and chlorine disinfection method

Water disinfection assays were carried out using ozone and chlorine in non-sequential steps--the individual method--and in sequential steps--the combined ozone/chlorine method. Escherichia coli strain ATCC 11229 was used as the indicator microorganism. For the assays using the individual method, the applied dosages of ozone were 2.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg/L, and 2.0 and 5.0 mg/L of chlorine were used. For the assays applying the combined method, the dosages (dosage combination) were, in mg/L: 2.0 O3 + 2.0 Cl, 3.0 O3 + 2.0 Cl2, 5.0 O3 + 2.0 Cl2 and 2.0 O3 + 5.0 Cl2. The applied contact times were 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes for the individual method as well as for the combined method. For all used dosages and contact times, E. coli inactivation was superior to the inactivation obtained in the individual method, indicating the occurrence of synergism for E. coli inactivation in the combined method.

Carrier tests to assess the effective sporicidal concentration of a liquid chemical disinfectant for a sanitization program

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the microbial efficacy against highly resistant bacterial spores on different substrates using the lowest effective concentration of a market liquid sporicide based on peracetic acid. The validation was carried out following modified European regulatory agencies procedures or test methods and USP guidelines, employing carriers of materials usually treated with the sporicidal solution and present in grade A cleanrooms and spores of four different microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium sporogenes, both from the ATCC collection, and Bacillus cereus and Bacillus sphaericus as environmental isolates. A statistical evaluation of data was made to estimate the variance for different study conditions. The experiments highlighted that 70% suitable dilution of the ready-to-use peracetic acid solution was effective in both clean and dirty conditions, showing at least 2 log spore reduction after treatment. To obtain effective sporicidal action on the surfaces in cleanrooms it is sufficient to use a sporicidal solution with a ready-to-use concentration of 70% while ensuring a contact time of 10 min. In any case, the reduction of sporicide concentration ensures a high degree of disinfection and provides a consumption savings.

LAY ABSTRACT

Wide-spectrum disinfectants are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the decontamination of work surfaces and equipment, but these products have some degree of toxicity for operators. This work arises from the needs of pharmaceutical companies to find the lowest effective concentration of sanitizers in order to reduce toxicity to personnel. The sanitizer used in the study was a market liquid sporicide based on peracetic acid. When we started our work no similar studies were reported in the literature, so we took European regulatory agencies and USP guidelines as a starting point, employing carriers of hard, non-porous materials usually treated with the sporicidal solution and present in sterile rooms and spores of four different microorganisms. The experiments highlighted that it is sufficient to use a 70% sporicidal solution concentration with a contact time of 10 min to reduce the number of spores to acceptable values for medicinal production. The reduction of sporicide concentration both ensures a high degree of disinfection and provides a safer working environment and consumption savings.

[Chlorination byproducts formation potentials of typical nitrogenous organic compounds in water]

Twelve typical nitrogenous organic compounds including herbicides, pesticides, amino acids, industrial products etc in polluted raw water were selected to investigate formation of typical carbonaceous and nitrogenous DBPs during chlorination and chloramination. To indentify the formation mechanism of carbonaceous and nitrogenous disinfection byproducts from nitrogenous chemicals, chlorination and chloroamination of urea herbicides, triazine herbicides, amino acid, and other compounds were investigated. As a result, the potential precursors for different DBPs were defined as well. It has been identified that widely used urea herbicides could produce as many as 9 specific DBPs. The chlorotoluron shows highest reactivity and yields chloroform (CF), monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), 1,1-dichloro-acetone (1,1-DCP), 1,1,1-trichloro-acetone (1,1,1-TCP), chloropicrin (NTCM), dichloro-acetonitrile (DCAN), dimethylnitrosamine (NDMA). The results indicated that aldicarb and dinoseb are important precursors of CF, DCAA, MCAA, NTCM as well. High concentrations of CF and DCAA were found during L-tryptophan chlorination. Furthermore, DBPs formation pathways and mechanisms were suggested during chlorination and chloramination of chlorotoluron, ametryn, dinoseb L-tryptophan.

Developing a qPCR method to quantify AhR-PCP-DNA complex for detection of environmental trace-level PCP

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a widely-used aseptic or biocide, is known as an environmental toxicant involved in endocrine disruption even at a trace level. In order to reliably and efficiently quantify environmental trace-quantity PCP, this study developed a novel PCP detection method using the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR). DNA probe with AhR binding sites was synthesized by PCR before added into AhR-PCP complex. After AhR-PCP-DNA complex was digested with exonuclease, copy number of DNA probe was determined using fluorescence qPCR. To calculate PCP concentration in samples, a standard curve (PCP concentration versus Ct value) was constructed and the detection range was 10(-13) to 10(-9) M. PCP detection limit was 0.0089 ppt for the AhR-PCP-DNA complex assay and 8.8780 ppm for high performance liquid chromatography, demonstrating that the method developed in this study is more sensitive. These results suggest that AhR-PCP-DNA complex method may be successfully applicable in detection and quantification of environmental trace-level PCP.

Sorption of biocides, triazine and phenylurea herbicides, and UV-filters onto secondary sludge

The sludge-water distribution of a total of 41 organic micropollutants (9 phenylurea herbicides, 11 triazines, 16 biocides and 5 UV-filters) was investigated in laboratory batch experiments with fresh secondary sludge taken from a municipal WWTP. Sorption kinetics as well as sorption isotherms were examined by analyzing the compound concentration in the aqueous and solid phase for mass balance control and quality assurance. The sorption kinetic experiments revealed a sorption equilibrium time of <2 h and adverse effects of sodium azide on the sludge-water distribution of several compounds. Sorption isotherms were constructed for 6 different spiking levels spanning 3 orders of magnitude (100 ng L(-1)-30,000 ng L(-1)) and were well described by the Freundlich model. For some compounds non-linear sorption with Freundlich exponents n < 1 revealed a decreased sorption affinity to the sludge flocs with increasing aqueous phase concentration. Therefore, sludge-water distribution coefficients (K(d,sec)) were calculated from the isotherm data for a constant concentration level of 1 μg L(-1). Based on the sludge dry weight (dw), the K(d,sec) values of phenylurea herbicides ranged from 9 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (isoproturon) to 320 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (neburon), those of triazines from 5 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (atrazine) to 190 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (terbutryn), those of biocides from 10 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (N,N-dimethyl-N'-p-tolylsulfamide) to 40,000 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (triclocarban) and those of UV-filters from 9 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid) to 720 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) (benzophenone-3). For most compounds K(d,sec) values were below 500 L kg(dw sludge)(-1) and thus removal in WWTPs by the withdrawal of excess sludge is expected to be negligible (<10%) except for the biocides triclocarban (80-95%), triclosan (55-85%), chlorophene (30-60%), imazalil (25-55%) and fenpropimorph (15-40%) as well as the UV-filter benzophenone-3 (5-20%). A simple linear free-energy relationship (LFER) approach using the logarithmized octanol-water partition coefficient log K(OW) as single descriptor is discussed for a rough classification of nonionic compounds regarding their potential removal in WWTPs by sorption.

[Disinfection efficiency for outlet water from biological activated carbon process by different disinfecting modes]

Lab-scale tests were designed to treat the leak of bacteria from BAC process. Water samples from outlet of BAC pool in Xujing Waterworks in Shanghai were disinfected by NaClO and NH2Cl disinfectant to compare the disinfection efficiency. Heterotrophic bacteria in disinfected water were cultivated and counted and halo hydrocarbons were detected by GC. To keep the disinfecting efficacy [lg(N0/N)] over 2 under the water temperature of 30 degrees C, NaClO should have an initial concentration more than 1.84 mg/L total chlorine and contact with bacteria for about 30 minutes. As to NH2Cl disinfection, the initial concentration should be more than 2.20 mg/L total chlorine and contacting time should be prolonged to about 90 minutes. The production of CHCl3 ranged from 4.97 to 7.10 microg/L and CCl4 ranged from 0.01 to 0.71 microg/L in NaClO disinfection tests with a initial disinfecting concentration in the range of 1.53-2.42 mg/L total chlorine values. In NH2Cl disinfecting tests, CHCl3 ranged from 4.43 to 5.55 microg/L and CCl4 ranged from 0.01 to 0.64 microg/L when initial disinfecting concentration limited in the range of 2.10-2.86 mg/L total chlorine values. All was below the state drinking water standard. The results showed that the disinfection process can be divided into fast step and slow step. NaCl0 has higher disinfecting efficiency on bacteria than NH2Cl, but neither can reach 100% effectivity. Meanwhile the risk of producing halo hydrocarbon over standard was proved to be negligible.

New water resistant biomaterial biocide film based on guar gum

This work was aimed to develop water resistant biocide film from renewable resources for applications in food and water technology. Guar gum, a polymeric galactomannan, was intrinsically modified to a new guar gum benzamide. Benzoylation was carried out by benzoyl chloride reaction in water medium and a propyl amine spacer was used to impart a high degree of hydrophobicity. The new guar gum benzamide was resistant to water and soluble in non aqueous solvent like dimethyl sulfoxide. Cast films of thickness 0.162 mm had a breaking point tensile strength of 21.95 Mpa. The water vapor permeability of biomaterial film was 0.28 g mm kPa(-1)h(-1)m(-2) and water contact angle on evaporative surface was 90.35 degree. Qualitative and quantitative biocide activity of film was established against Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The new guar gum benzamide absorbed strongly in UV region.

Modelling biocide leaching from facades

Biocides leach from facades during rain events and subsequently enter the aquatic environment with storm water. Little is known about the losses of an entire settlement, since most studies referred to wash-off experiments conducted under laboratory conditions. Their results show a fast decrease of concentrations in the beginning, which subsequently slows down. The aim of this study is to develop a simple model to understand the mechanisms leading to these losses as well as to simulate losses under various rainfall and application conditions. We developed a four-box model based on the knowledge gained from fits of an exponential function to an existing experimental data set of a wash-off experiment. The model consists of two mobile stocks from which biocides are washed off during a rain event. These mobile stocks are supplied with biocides from storage stocks by diffusion-type processes. The model accurately reproduced the measured data of wash-off during single cycles as well as peak wash-offs over all cycles. Our model results for diuron losses showed that a large proportion (∼ 70%) of the applied biocides are still in the stocks even after a rain volume corresponding to several years (1100 mm y(-1), Swiss Plateau). Applications to realistic outdoor conditions showed that losses can not be neglected for urban environments and that knowledge about the amount of rainfall turned into runoff and the decay constants of the biocides in the facades are crucial. The model increased our understanding of the processes leading to the observed dynamic in laboratory experiments and was used to simulate losses for various rainfall and application conditions.

Occurrence and formation potential of N-nitrosodimethylamine in ground water and river water in Tokyo

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a disinfection byproduct of water and wastewater treatment processes, is a potent carcinogen. We investigated its occurrence and the potential for its formation by chlorination (NDMA-FP Cl2) and by chloramination (NDMA-FP NH2Cl) in ground water and river water in Tokyo. To characterize NDMA precursors, we revealed their molecular weight distributions in ground water and river water. We collected 23 ground water and 18 river water samples and analyzed NDMA by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. NDMA-FP Cl2 was evaluated by chlorinating water samples with free chlorine for 24 h at pH 7.0 while residual free chlorine was kept at 1.0-2.0 mg Cl(2)/L. NDMA-FP NH2Cl was evaluated by dosing water samples with monochloramine at 140 mg Cl(2)/L for 10 days at pH 6.8. NDMA precursors and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were fractionated by filtration through 30-, 3-, and 0.5 kDa membranes. NDMA concentrations were <0.5-5.2 ng/L (median: 0.9 ng/L) in ground water and <0.5-3.4 ng/L (2.2 ng/L) in river water. NDMA concentrations in ground water were slightly lower than or comparable to those in river water. Concentrations of NDMA-FP Cl2 were not much higher than concentrations of NDMA except in samples containing high concentrations of NH(3) and NDMA precursors. The increased NDMA was possibly caused by reactions between NDMA precursors and monochloramine unintentionally formed by the reaction between free chlorine and NH(3) in the samples. NDMA precursors ranged from 4 to 84 ng-NDMA eq./L in ground water and from 11 to 185 ng-NDMA eq./L in river water. Those in ground water were significantly lower than those in river water, suggesting that NDMA precursors were biodegraded, adsorbed, or volatilized during infiltration. The molecular weight of NDMA precursors in river water was dominant in the <0.5 kDa fraction, followed by 0.5-3 kDa. However, their distribution was inconsistent in ground water: one was dominant in the <0.5 kDa fraction, and the other in 0.5-3 kDa. Molecular weight distributions of NDMA precursors were very different from those of DOC. This is the first study to reveal the widespread occurrence and characterization of NDMA precursors in ground water.

[Simultaneous determination of 9 phenolic compounds in disinfectant by HPLC]

OBJECTIVE

A high performance liquid chromatography method was established for determination of 9 phenolic compounds in the disinfectant.

METHODS

on a C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) chromatography column, use the methol-0.22% sodium heptane solution (pH 3.5) as mobile phase ladder washing, under the following conditions: flow rate 1.0 ml/min, detection wave 280 nm, and the column temperature 25 degrees C.

RESULTS

In this method, the linear range of each compound was 5 - 200 mg/L and the correlation coefficients was more than 0.9995. The detection limit was 1mg/L. The RSD was less than 4.8% and standard addition recovery varied from 97.6% to 108.2%.

CONCLUSION

This method was easy to operate, fast and with high sensitivity. It was suitable for routine analysis for disinfectant and can be used for the quality control of effective compounds in disinfectant.

Impact of UV disinfection combined with chlorination/chloramination on the formation of halonitromethanes and haloacetonitriles in drinking water

The application of UV disinfection in water treatment is increasing due to both its effectiveness against protozoan pathogens, and the perception that its lack of chemical inputs would minimize disinfection byproduct formation. However, previous research has indicated that treatment of nitrate-containing drinking waters with polychromatic medium pressure (MP), but not monochromatic (254 nm) low pressure (LP), UV lamps followed by chlorination could promote chloropicrin formation. To better understand this phenomenon, conditions promoting the formation of the full suite of chlorinated halonitromethanes and haloacetonitriles were studied. MP UV/postchlorination of authentic filter effluent waters increased chloropicrin formation up to an order of magnitude above the 0.19 μg/L median level in the U.S. EPA's Information Collection Rule database, even at disinfection-level fluences (<300 mJ/cm(2)) and nitrate/nitrite concentrations (1.0 mg/L-N) relevant to drinking waters. Formation was up to 2.5 times higher for postchlorination than for postchloramination. Experiments indicated that the nitrating agent, NO(2)(•), generated during nitrate photolysis, was primarily responsible for halonitromethane promotion. LP UV treatment up to 1500 mJ/cm(2) did not enhance halonitromethane formation. Although MP UV/postchloramination enhanced dichloroacetonitrile formation with Sigma-Aldrich humic acid, formation was not significant in field waters. Prechlorination/MP UV nearly doubled chloropicrin formation compared to MP UV/postchlorination, but effects on haloacetonitrile formation were not significant.

N-halamine biocidal coatings via a layer-by-layer assembly technique

Two N-halamine copolymer precursors, poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid potassium salt) and poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl methacrylate-co-trimethyl-2-methacryloxyethylammonium chloride) have been synthesized and successfully coated onto cotton fabric via a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. A multilayer thin film was deposited onto the fiber surfaces by alternative exposure to polyelectrolyte solutions. The coating was rendered biocidal by a dilute household bleach treatment. The biocidal efficacies of tested swatches composed of treated fibers were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. It was determined that chlorinated samples inactivated both S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7 within 15 min of contact time, whereas the unchlorinated control samples did not exhibit significant biocidal activities. Stabilities of the coatings toward washing and ultraviolet light exposure have also been studied. It was found that the stability toward washing was superior, whereas the UVA light stability was moderate compared to previously studied N-halamine moieties. The layer-by-layer assembly technique can be used to attach N-halamine precursor polymers onto cellulose surfaces without using covalently bonding tethering groups which limit the structure designs. In addition, ionic precursors are very soluble in water, thus promising for biocidal coatings without the use of organic solvents.

Simultaneous degradation of disinfection byproducts and earthy-musty odorants by the UV/H2O2 advanced oxidation process

Advanced treatment technologies that control multiple contaminants are beneficial to drinking water treatment. This research applied UV/H(2)O(2) for the simultaneous degradation of geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, four trihalomethanes and six haloacetic acids. Experiments were conducted in de-ionized water at 24 ± 1.0 °C with ng/L amounts of odorants and μg/L amounts of disinfection byproducts. UV was applied with and without 6 mg/L H(2)O(2.) The results demonstrated that brominated trihalomethanes and brominated haloacetic acids were degraded to a greater extent than geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol. Tribromomethane and dibromochloromethane were degraded by 99% and 80% respectively at the UV dose of 1200 mJ/cm(2) with 6 mg/L H(2)O(2), whereas 90% of the geosmin and 60% of the 2-methylisoborneol were removed. Tribromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid were degraded by 99% and 80% respectively under the same conditions. Concentrations of trichloromethane and chlorinated haloacetic acids were not substantially reduced under these conditions and were not effectively removed at doses designed to remove geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol. Brominated compounds were degraded primarily by direct photolysis and cleavage of the C-Br bond with pseudo first order rate constants ranging from 10(-3) to 10(-2) s(-1). Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol were primarily degraded by reaction with hydroxyl radical with direct photolysis as a minor factor. Perchlorinated disinfection byproducts were degraded by reaction with hydroxyl radicals. These results indicate that the UV/H(2)O(2) can be applied to effectively control both odorants and brominated disinfection byproducts.

Trichloramine in swimming pools--formation and mass transfer

Trichloramine is a volatile, irritant compound of penetrating odor, which is found as a disinfection by-product in the air of chlorinated indoor swimming pools from reactions of nitrogenous compounds with chlorine. Acid amides, especially urea, ammonium ions and α-amino acids have been found as most efficient trichloramine precursors at acidic and neutral pH. For urea a relative NCl(3) formation of 96% at pH 2.5 and 76% at pH 7.1 was determined. Even under sub-stoichiometric molar ratios of Cl/N the formation of NCl(3) is favored over mono and dichlorinated products. However, the reaction kinetics of urea with chlorine is slow under conditions relevant for swimming pools. Also the mass transfer of NCl(3) from water to the gas phase which was calculated by the Deacon's boundary layer model could be shown as a relatively slow process. Mass transfer would take 20 h or 5.8 d for a rough or a quiescent surface of the water, respectively. This is much more than a typical turnover rate of 6-8 h of a treatment cycle of a 25 m swimming pool. Therefore processes to remove NCl(3) and its precursors can help to minimize the exposure of bathers.

Powdered activated carbon coupled with enhanced coagulation for natural organic matter removal and disinfection by-product control: application in a Western Australian water treatment plant

The removal of organic precursors of disinfection by-products (DBPs), i.e. natural organic matter (NOM), prior to disinfection and distribution is considered as the most effective approach to minimise the formation of DBPs. This study investigated the impact of the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) to an enhanced coagulation treatment process at an existing water treatment plant on the efficiency of NOM removal, the disinfection behaviour of the treated water, and the water quality in the distribution system. This is the first comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of plant-scale application of PAC combined with enhanced coagulation on an Australian source water. As a result of the PAC addition, the removal of NOM improved by 70%, which led to a significant reduction (80-95%) in the formation of DBPs. The water quality in the distribution system also improved, indicated by lower concentrations of DBPs in the distribution system and better maintenance of disinfectant residual at the extremities of the distribution system. The efficacy of the PAC treatment for NOM removal was shown to be a function of the characteristics of the NOM and the quality of the source water, as well as the PAC dose. PAC treatment did not have the capacity to remove bromide ion, resulting in the formation of more brominated DBPs. Since brominated DBPs have been found to be more toxic than their chlorinated analogues, their preferential formation upon PAC addition must be considered, especially in source waters containing high concentrations of bromide.