Effect of bromide ion on isolated fractions of dissolved organic matter in secondary effluent during chlorination

Formation and speciation of hazardous trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids during chlorinated washing of brined kimchi cabbage in the presence of bromide

Brominated disinfection byproducts (Br-DBPs) may be generated in high concentrations during the chlorinated washing of brined kimchi cabbage (BKC) in kimchi manufacturing. However, the generation of these DBPs is not sufficiently understood. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the formation and speciation of the DBPs trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) during the chlorinated washing process. The average bromide content in 22 salt products sourced from various regions of Korea was 1600 ± 468 mg/kg. Increasing bromide content shifted the speciation of DBPs from chlorinated to mixed bromochloro to brominated species, which would be more harmful than their chlorinated analogs. DBP formation during the washing of BKC at average bromide levels changed based on the brine salinity, salting temperature, and disinfectant type. Based on our findings, we recommend that low salinity and low temperature should be maintained during the salting of KC and that NaOCl should be used as the disinfectant rather than slightly acidic electrolyzed water during the chlorinated washing of KC to alleviate the formation of Br-DBPs. Moreover, we recommend the use of salts with low bromide levels for the salting of KC and the addition of a rinse step after chlorinated washing.

Interactive impacts of microplastics and chlorine on biological stability and microbial community formation in stagnant water

Possibility of human exposure to microplastics (MPs) in water environment has been escalating, and subsequent challenges of MPs to biostability and biosafety in drinking water deserve more attention, especially in stagnant water. The present study explored the integrated impacts of MPs and chlorine on disinfection kinetics, microbial growth, and microbial community formation in drinking water, by setting MPs or microplastic-biofilm (MP-BM) under different disinfection conditions. The following were the primary conclusions: (1) The presence of MP and MP-BM led to the deterioration of water indices (especially turbidity) when chlorine was less than 1 mg/L. (2) MP/MP-BM accelerated the decay of disinfectants and MP-BM consumed more rapidly. Meanwhile, chlorine contributed to the level of BRP, ranging from 4.78 × 10⁵ CFU/mL to 1.42 × 10⁷ CFU/mL. (3) MP/MP-BM and chlorine integrally shaped microbial communities in water samples and biofilm samples. Microbial dissimilarity between isolated and hybrid MP-BM indicated manners of microbial field or non-contact communication. Microbial abundance and OPs were effectively controlled when chlorine was over 1 mg/L. (4) According to time-lag differential equations simulation, impulsive chlorination contributed to controlling microbial risks and DBPs induced by MP/MP-BM and water stagnation.

Characterization of wastewater effluent organic matter with different solid phase extraction sorbents

Effluent organic matter (EfOM) from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has received increasing attention due to its impacts on natural and engineered aquatic systems. A comprehensive understanding of molecular compositions of EfOM is crucial for controlling its negative effects and effective removal of it. Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) is a powerful method to characterize molecular compositions of EfOM. However, application of this powerful technique is very depending on the sample preparation procedures (i.e. solid phase extraction, SPE) for enrichment and desalting. In this study, a systematic comparison of the difference in molecular compositions of the EfOM extracted using eighteen different SPE sorbents (Envicarb, PPL, ENV, HLB, C18, C18OH, C8, PH, CH, WAX, WCX, MAX, MCX, CBA, C2, CN-E, NH2, and SI) was investigated. Molecular characterization using FTICR MS showed that non-polar sorbents (Envicarb, PPL, ENV, HLB, C18, C18OH) and mixed mode sorbents (WAX, WCX, MAX, MCX) prefer to extract more aromatic and unsaturated molecules, while strongly-polar (SI), mid-polar (CBA, NH2), and weakly non-polar (C2, CN-E) sorbents prefer to extract more aliphatic components. In addition, it is found that combining extracts of CBA, ENV, and EnviCarb sorbents might be a practical way to provide a comprehensive information of molecular composition of EfOM. The results reported in this study provide valuable information on molecular compositions of EfOM and the selectivity of EfOM by different SPE sorbents.

Use of spectroscopic indicators for the monitoring of bromate generation in ozonated wastewater containing variable concentrations of bromide

Time-resolved monitoring of bromate and other by-products formed into effluents treated with ozone or advanced oxidation processes in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is time-consuming and expensive. This study examined whether concentrations of bromate formed in wastewater after ozonation in the presence of widely varying bromide levels (from ca. 0.7-21.2 mg/L) can be quantified based on measurements of changes in optical properties (differential UV absorbance (ΔUVA), spectral slopes, total or regional fluorescence) of the ozonated samples. Batch ozonation was carried out using a secondary effluent produced at a major wastewater treatment plant located in the Metropolitan Seattle Area. The tests involved raw and bromide-spiked samples treated with ozone doses from 0.1 to 1 mg O₃/mg DOC. Measurements of the absorbance at 254 nm (UVA254), fluorescence and bromate concentrations were performed on the treated samples. In the ozonated wastewater the concentration of bromate increased approximately linearly, from <10 ppb to ca. 200 ppb, without showing the lag phase characteristic for lower ozone doses (<0.4 mg O₃/mg DOC) that was observed in previous studies carried out with concentrations of bromide in the range of 0.05-0.5 mg/L. The highest bromide concentrations used in this study (>10 mg/L) tended to inhibit the generation of bromate. Relative reduction of UVA254 and total fluorescence (TF) were found to be good predictors of bromate generation. Specifically, exponential curves could adequately fit the non-linear relationships found to exist between the concentrations of bromate and the relative reductions of the UV254 and TF, for any initial bromide concentrations used in this study. Little formation of bromate was found to occur for reduction ranges for UVA254 and TF of 30-40% and 70-80% respectively. Conversely, rapid increases in bromate generation were observed when the decrease of UVA254 or TF exceeded these threshold values.

Chemical fingerprinting of saline water intrusion into sewage lines

High salinity in sewage sludge can affect not only the operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) but also the quality of treated water generated, thereby limiting its downstream reuse. Using data on geochemical parameters, both for the central WWTP in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and literature values for potential regional saline water sources (e.g., shallow groundwater and regional Arabian Gulf seawater), a variety of chemical fingerprinting diagnostic ratios were calculated and plotted in order to determine the source of salinity in the municipal sewage. Data were compared with data from a regional WWTP that was not impacted by salinity. Monitoring data demonstrated persistently elevated levels of salinity in the municipal wastewater arriving at the central WWTP from the city. Dilution/concentration analysis using a conductivity vs. chloride plot showed both potential sources, i.e. Arabian Gulf seawater and coastal hypersaline groundwater, as feasible sources of wastewater salinization. Further diagnostic analysis using a Panno Plot indicated that coastal groundwater was the only likely source of salinization of municipal sewage. Additional confirmation of the identity of the source and the extent of mixing using different lines of evidence like stable isotope ratios is recommended for future study.

Characterization of trihalomethane, haloacetic acid, and haloacetonitrile precursors in a seawater reverse osmosis system

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) has been extensively applied to replenish the limited freshwater resources. One concern of such technology is the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during the pre-chlorination process. For the SWRO tested in this study, the concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and haloacetonitriles (HANs) increased by 35.1, 23.7 and 4.9μg/L, respectively, after a seawater sample (with UV₂₅₄/DOC of 3.7L/mg·m and Br^- of 50.9mg/L) was pre-chlorinated (1-2mg-Cl₂/L). The dissolved organic matter (DOM) with molecular weight (MW) <1kDa dominated the formation of total THMs, HAAs and HANs. To further investigate DBPs precursors in the seawater, the DOM with MW<1kDa was fractionated to hydrophobic acids (HOA), hydrophobic bases (HOB), hydrophobic neutrals (HON), and hydrophilic substances (HIS). The excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectra analysis showed that most aromatic protein and fulvic acid of the DOM with MW<1kDa were present in the HON and HIS fractions. The HON fraction was the dominant precursor to form THMs and HAAs, while HIS controlled the formation of HANs. Furthermore, bromo - DBPs dominated the total DBPs yields after the chlorination of HIS fraction.

Identification of disinfection by-products in freshwater and seawater swimming pools and evaluation of genotoxicity

Exposure to disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in swimming pools has been linked to adverse health effects. Numerous DBPs that occur in swimming pools are genotoxic and carcinogenic. This toxicity is of a greater concern in the case of brominated DBPs that have been shown to have substantially greater toxicities than their chlorinated analogs. In chlorinated seawater swimming pools, brominated DBPs are formed due to the high content of bromide. Nevertheless, very little data is reported about DBP occurrence and mutagenicity of water in these pools. In the present study, three seawater and one freshwater swimming pools located in Southeastern France were investigated to determine qualitatively and quantitatively their DBP contents. An evaluation of the genotoxic properties of water samples of the freshwater pool and a seawater pool was conducted through the Salmonella assay (Ames test). The predominant DBPs identified in the freshwater pool were chlorinated species and included trichloroacetic acid, chloral hydrate, dichloroacetonitrile, 1,1,1-trichloropropanone and chloroform. In the seawater pools, brominated DBPs were the predominant species and included dibromoacetic acid, bromoform and dibromoacetonitile. Bromal hydrate levels were also reported. In both types of pools, haloacetic acids were the most prevalent chemical class among the analyzed DBP classes. The distribution of other DBP classes varied depending on the type of pool. As to genotoxicity, the results of Ames test showed higher mutagenicity in the freshwater pool as a consequence of its considerably higher DBP contents in comparison to the tested seawater pool.

Chemical contaminants in swimming pools: Occurrence, implications and control

A range of trace chemical contaminants have been reported to occur in swimming pools. Current disinfection practices and monitoring of swimming pool water quality are aimed at preventing the spread of microbial infections and diseases. However, disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed when the disinfectants used react with organic and inorganic matter in the pool. Additional chemicals may be present in swimming pools originating from anthropogenic sources (bodily excretions, lotions, cosmetics, etc.) or from the source water used where trace chemicals may already be present. DBPs have been the most widely investigated trace chemical contaminants, including trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), halobenzoquinones (HBQs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), halonitromethanes (HNMs), N-nitrosamines, nitrite, nitrates and chloramines. The presence and concentrations of these chemical contaminants are dependent upon several factors including the types of pools, types of disinfectants used, disinfectant dosages, bather loads, temperature and pH of swimming pool waters. Chemical constituents of personal care products (PCPs) such as parabens and ultraviolet (UV) filters from sunscreens have also been reported. By-products from reactions of these chemicals with disinfectants and UV irradiation have been reported and some may be more toxic than their parent compounds. There is evidence to suggest that exposure to some of these chemicals may lead to health risks. This paper provides a detailed review of various chemical contaminants reported in swimming pools. The concentrations of chemicals present in swimming pools may also provide an alternative indicator to swimming pool water quality, providing insights to contamination sources. Alternative treatment methods such as activated carbon filtration and advanced oxidation processes may be beneficial in improving swimming pool water quality.

Effect of ozone on algal organic matters as precursors for disinfection by-products production

The effect of ozone dose on algae (Microcystic aeruginosa), algal extracellular organic matters (EOM), humic acids (HA) and four model compounds: bovine serum albumin (BSA), starch, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and fish oil as precursors for disinfection by-products (DBPs) production was investigated. Algae showed the highest DBPs formation (71.8 microg mg-1 total organic carbon (TOC)) than other samples. Only BSA showed lower chloroform yield (5.9 microg mg-1 TOC) than haloacetic acids, HAAs (11.2 microg mg-1 TOC). Algae, EOM, starch, DNA, fish oil and HA all showed higher chloroform yields (46.1, 23.8, 8.9, 37.1, 44.0 and 33.7 microg mg-1 TOC, respectively) than HAAs (25.7, 20.2, 6.3, 10.0, 13.1 and 18.4 microg mg-1 TOC, respectively). Pre-ozonation increased DBPs, especially chloroform, formation from algae and DNA significantly. With the increase in ozone doses, DBPs yields of algae and DNA increased 19.0 and 34.5 microg mg-1 TOC, chloroform yields of algae and DNA increased 15.3 and 30.4 microg mg-1 TOC, respectively. However, pre-ozonation decreased DBPs formation from starch, fish oil and HA, and the corresponding decrease amount was 2.4, 26.9 and 9.5 microg mg-1 TOC, respectively. There are no regular change trends of DBPs formation from EOM and BSA with the increase in ozone doses.

Antiestrogenic activity and related disinfection by-product formation induced by bromide during chlorine disinfection of sewage secondary effluent

Chlorine disinfection, widely used in wastewater reclamation, can form toxic and harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs), some of which are associated with endocrine disruption. In this study, the presence of bromide was found to promote an increase in antiestrogenic activity using a yeast two-hybrid assay in the sewage secondary effluent during chlorine disinfection. Among the dissolved organic matters in the secondary effluent, hydrophobic acids and hydrophilic substance fractions were determined as potential precursors associated with increase in antiestrogenic activity in the secondary effluent induced by bromide. Further antiestrogenic activity evaluation and mass spectrum characterization following the semipreparative liquid chromatography fractionation of a natural organic matter precursor, tyrosine, after chlorination under the presence of bromide revealed, for the first time, that 2-(bromo-4-hydroxyphenyl) acetonitrile (Br-HPAN) and 2-(dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl) acetonitrile (DBr-HPAN) exhibited antiestrogenic activity. Br-HPAN and DBr-HPAN were the DBPs involved in the increase in antiestrogenic activity in the tyrosine solution. Bromide was shown to induce the formation of Br-HPAN and DBr-HPAN in the secondary effluent during chlorine disinfection.

A critical review of the risks to water resources from unconventional shale gas development and hydraulic fracturing in the United States

The rapid rise of shale gas development through horizontal drilling and high volume hydraulic fracturing has expanded the extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the U.S. The rise of shale gas development has triggered an intense public debate regarding the potential environmental and human health effects from hydraulic fracturing. This paper provides a critical review of the potential risks that shale gas operations pose to water resources, with an emphasis on case studies mostly from the U.S. Four potential risks for water resources are identified: (1) the contamination of shallow aquifers with fugitive hydrocarbon gases (i.e., stray gas contamination), which can also potentially lead to the salinization of shallow groundwater through leaking natural gas wells and subsurface flow; (2) the contamination of surface water and shallow groundwater from spills, leaks, and/or the disposal of inadequately treated shale gas wastewater; (3) the accumulation of toxic and radioactive elements in soil or stream sediments near disposal or spill sites; and (4) the overextraction of water resources for high-volume hydraulic fracturing that could induce water shortages or conflicts with other water users, particularly in water-scarce areas. Analysis of published data (through January 2014) reveals evidence for stray gas contamination, surface water impacts in areas of intensive shale gas development, and the accumulation of radium isotopes in some disposal and spill sites. The direct contamination of shallow groundwater from hydraulic fracturing fluids and deep formation waters by hydraulic fracturing itself, however, remains controversial.

Health risk assessment of inhalation exposure of irrigation workers and the public to trihalomethanes from reclaimed water in landscape irrigation in Tianjin, North China

To estimate the concentration in air and the cancer risk of irrigation workers and the public exposed to the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in reclaimed water used for landscape irrigation, a probabilistic health risk assessment was conducted through the integrated use of one-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) Monte Carlo simulations. Before the 2-D simulation, a sensitivity analysis corresponding to the 1-D simulation was carried out to identity the factors most affecting the outputs. The results reveal that the TTHM concentration level and cancer risk for workers' exposure is much higher than that for public exposure in landscape irrigation. Moreover, the most influential factors are quite different for workers' exposure and public exposure. The 2-D Monte Carlo risk analysis result for the workers indicated that the lowest-risk, highest-risk and two critical points for irrigation height are 0.7 m, 1.53 m, 1.4m and 1.65 m when the mean value of the risk is selected as the reference statistic for risk management. Based on the risk assessment results, different measures can be suggested for the risk control of different populations. Furthermore, the influential variables should be better characterized to improve the accuracy of health risk assessment.

Trihalomethanes in Lisbon indoor swimming pools: occurrence, determining factors, and health risk classification

Characterization of water quality from indoor swimming pools, using chorine-based disinfection techniques, was performed during a 6-mo period to study the occurrence, distribution, and concentration factors of trihalomethanes (THM). Several parameters such as levels of water THM, water and air chloroform, water bromodichloromethane (BDCM), water dibromochloromethane (DBCM), water bromoform (BF), free residual chlorine (FrCl), pH, water and air temperature, and permanganate water oxidizability (PWO) were determined in each pool during that period. Chloroform (CF(W)) was the THM detected at higher concentrations in all pools, followed by BDCM, DBCM, and BF detected at 99, 34, and 6% of the samples, respectively. Water THM concentrations ranged from 10.1 to 155 μg/L, with 6.5% of the samples presenting values above 100 μg/L (parametric value established in Portuguese law DL 306/2007). In this study, air chloroform (CF(Air)) concentrations ranged from 45 to 373 μg/m³ with 24% of the samples presenting values above 136 μg/m³ (considered high exposure value). Several significant correlations were observed between total THM and other parameters, namely, CF(W), CF(Air), FrCl, water temperature (T(W)), and PWO. These correlations indicate that FrCl, T(W) and PWO are parameters that influence THM formation. The exposure criterion established for water THM enabled the inclusion of 67% of Lisbon pools in the high exposure group, which reinforces the need for an improvement in pool water quality.

Comparison of dissolved organic matter fractions in a secondary effluent and a natural water

This research compared the structural and chemical characteristics among dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions within the same source and among different origins. Samples taken from the Taiping Wastewater Treatment Plant (TWTP) (Harbin, China) and from the Songhuajing River (SR), Heilongjiang Province, China were chosen to represent waters containing DOM of wastewater origin and of natural-water origin, respectively. DOM was fractionated using XAD resins into five fractions: hydrophobic acid (HPO-A), hydrophobic neutral (HPO-N), transphilic acid (TPI-A), transphilic neutral (TPI-N) and hydrophilic fraction (HPI). The SR fractions were more UV-sensitive and more reactive with chlorine in formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) than the TWTP secondary effluent (TSE) fractions. The aromatic character peaks in the Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of SR fractions were clearer than those of TSE fractions. On the other hand, the peaks of carbohydrates in TSE fractions were more prominent in comparison with SR fractions. In addition, the amide-2 peak was present in the spectra of all the five TSE fractions but not visible in the spectra of SR fractions. The fluorescence results showed that SR DOM fractions contained more fulvic acid-like fluorescent compounds while TSE DOM fractions had higher amounts of protein-like fluorescent components.

Analysis of organic compounds in an urban wastewater treatment plant effluent

In the present work we fractioned the effluent water from an urban sewage treatment plant (USTP) of Ribarroja (Valencia, Spain) using the conventional protocol based on DAX8 and XAD4 resins. The fractions were analyzed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H-NMR, COSY-NMR, HSQC-NMR, FAB+-MS and also by derivatization with bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 10% of trimethylchlorosilane. The four fractions obtained have common spectroscopic features and individual compounds indicating that the fractioning procedure is inefficient at separating different families of compounds. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the derivatized fractions allowed identification of many individual compounds. The main classes of organic compounds present in the effluent are saccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, hydroxyacids, aromatic compounds and steroids. Also we were able to identify in the effluent the emerging pollutants paracetamol and ketoprofen - two best-selling antiinflammatory drugs used in humans.

Influence of soluble microbial products (SMP) on wastewater disinfection byproducts: trihalomethanes and haloacetic acid species from the chlorination of SMP

INTRODUCTION

Effluent organic matter from biological wastewater treatment plants is composed of degradation products and soluble microbial products (SMP). Protein, polysaccharide, humic acid, and DNA were major biomolecules of SMP. Little is known about the effects of SMP as microbially derived precursors on disinfection byproduct formation and speciation in biologically treated wastewater. In addition, there has never been any attempt to directly chlorinate the major biomolecules of SMP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, model compounds (bovine serum albumin, starch, DNA, and humic acid) and SMP collected from a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were chlorinated to verify the trihalomethane and haloacetic acid species that were produced from them.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results showed that chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, dichloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid were generated from the chlorination of SMP in the SBR, and there was a close relationship between the species predicted from the model chemical compounds and those obtained from the SMP.

Factorial analysis of the trihalomethane formation in the reaction of colloidal, hydrophobic, and transphilic fractions of DOM with free chlorine

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE

This study focuses on the factors that affect trihalomethane (THMs) formation when dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions (colloidal, hydrophobic, and transphilic fractions) in aqueous solutions were disinfected with chlorine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DOM fractions were isolated and fractionated from filtered lake water and were characterized by elemental analysis. The investigation involved a screening Placket-Burman factorial analysis design of five factors (DOM concentration, chlorine dose, temperature, pH, and bromide concentration) and a Box-Behnken design for a detailed assessment of the three most important factor effects (DOM concentration, chlorine dose, and temperature).

RESULTS

The results showed that colloidal fraction has a relatively low contribution to THM formation; transphilic fraction was responsible for about 50% of the chloroform generation, and the hydrophobic fraction was the most important to the brominated THM formation.

DISCUSSION

When colloidal and hydrophobic fraction solutions were disinfected, the most significant factors were the following: higher DOM fraction concentration led to higher THM concentration, an increase of pH corresponded to higher concentration levels of chloroform and reduced bromoform, higher levels of chlorine dose and temperature produced a rise in the total THM formation, especially of the chlorinated THMs; higher bromide concentration generates higher concentrations of brominated THMs. Moreover, linear models were implemented and response surface plots were obtained for the four THM concentrations and their total sum in the disinfection solution as a function of the DOM concentration, chlorine dose, and temperature. Overall, results indicated that THM formation models were very complex due to individual factor effects and significant interactions among the factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to reduce the concentration of THMs in drinking water, DOM concentrations must be reduced in the water prior to the disinfection. Fractionation of DOM, together with an elemental analysis of the fractions, is important issue in the revealing of the quality and quantity characteristics of DOM. Systematic study composed from DOM fraction investigation and factorial analysis of the responsible parameters in the THM formation reaction can, after an evaluation of the adjustment of the models with the reality, serves well for the evaluation of the spatial and temporal variability in the THM formation in dependence of DOM. However, taking into consideration the natural complexity of DOM, different operations and a strict control of them (like coagulation/flocculation and filtration) has to be used to quantitatively remove DOM from the raw water.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES

Assuming that this study represents a local case study, similar experiments can be easily applied and will supply with relevant information every local water treatment plant meeting problems with THM formation. The coagulation/flocculation and the filtration stages are the main mechanisms to remove DOM, particularly the colloidal DOM fraction. With the objective to minimize THMs generation, different unit operation designed to quantitatively remove DOM from water must be optimized.

Effects of operating conditions on THMs and HAAs formation during wastewater chlorination

Disinfection is the last barrier of wastewater reclamation process to protect ecosystem safety and human health. However, the chlorination process results in the formation of mutagenic/carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs) deriving from the reaction of the chlorine with organic compounds in wastewater. The effects of operating conditions (chlorine dose, contact time, reaction temperature and pH value) of chlorination on the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in biologically treated wastewater samples were investigated in this study. The results indicated that the total THMs (TTHM) and total HAAs (THAA) increased exponentially with increasing chlorine dose, but there are discrepancies between the formation rates of TTHM and THAA. The THAA reached a peak at contact time of 2h and thereafter decreased with extended time. The formation time of THMs depends on the wastewater content of quick or slow formers. The yields of bromated HAAs (as MBAA, BCAA, and BDCAA) would decrease markedly after the contact time over 2h during wastewater chlorination, and were favored in low pH values of 4 and high pH values of 9 under certain contact time. In addition, the formation of MBAA, BCAA, BDCAA decreased gradually as reaction temperature increased from 4 to 30 degrees C in the chlorination of wastewater containing a certain concentration of bromide. The effects of operating conditions on THMs and HAAs formation during wastewater chlorination were completely different from those of surface water disinfection.

Effect of bromide on the formation of disinfection by-products during wastewater chlorination

The effect of bromide ion on the formation and speciation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) during the chlorination of biologically treated wastewaters was investigated. The experimental results showed that the formation of total THMs and total HAAs during chlorine disinfection increased with increasing bromide levels in wastewater. The formation of CHBr(3) increased nearly linearly with increasing bromide ion levels, while CHCl(2)Br and CHClBr(2) increased with increasing bromide concentration from 0 to 3.2 mg L(-1) and thereafter remained constant or slightly decreased. Increasing initial bromide levels up to 12.8mgL(-1) resulted in sharp decrease of the concentration of CHCl(3) and chloro- HAAs. The mixed bromochloro- HAAs and bromo-only species replaced chloro- HAAs as the dominated species of HAA with increasing bromide levels. The distribution of monohalogenated, dihalogenated and trihalogenated species of HAAs in chlorinated wastewater at high concentration of bromide (>2 mg L(-1)) is different from that of drinking/natural water. The values of the bromine incorporation factors, n (Br) and n' (Br), increased with increasing bromide concentration and remained constant or slightly decreased with increasing contact time under the studied range of bromide ion concentrations during chlorination. Moreover, the bromine incorporation into THMs was higher than that of HAAs with bromide levels ranging from 1.0 to 12.8 mg L(-1), indicating the dissimilar formation mechanisms of THMs and HAAs involving bromide.