Reduction of dissolved organic matter in terms of DOC, UV-254, SUVA and THMFP in industrial estate wastewater treated by stabilization ponds

The aim of this research was to monitor the influent and effluent water quality of the aeration, facultative and oxidation water treatment ponds of an industrial estate. This industrial estate, the largest in northern Thailand, has proposed to utilization of reclaimed treated wastewater in their raw water supply so as to cope with the yearly water shortage during the dry season. Water samples were collected four times from four sampling points and evaluated for their dissolved organic matter (DOM) content in terms of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet light absorbance at 254 nm (UV-254), specific ultraviolet absorption (SUVA), trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and trihalomethane (THM) species. Average values of DOC, UV-254, SUVA and THMFP in the influent wastewater of 12.9 mg L⁻¹, 0.165 cm⁻¹, 1.29 L mg⁻¹m⁻¹ and 1.24 mg L⁻¹, respectively, were observed. The aeration ponds produced the best results: a 54% reduction of DOC, a 33% reduction of UV-254, and a 57% reduction of THMFP. However, SUVA in the aeration pond effluent showed a moderate increase. The facultative ponds and oxidation ponds did not take part in the reduction of DOC, UV-254, SUVA and THMFP. Average DOC, UV-254, SUVA and THMFP value of the treated wastewater were 5.8 mg L⁻¹, 0.107 cm⁻¹, 1.85 L mg⁻¹m⁻¹ and 468 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Chloroform, at 72.6% of total THMFP, was found to be the predominant THM species.     

Isolation and fractionation of natural organic matter: evaluation of reverse osmosis performance and impact of fractionation parameters

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) from three surface waters was isolated using reverse osmosis (RO) and subsequently fractionated using resin adsorption chromatography (RAC). Efficacy of RO was evaluated by closing mass balances for dissolved organic carbon (DOC). RAC was evaluated by investigating the effect of column operational parameters (column capacity factor, k', and solute initial concentration, C0) on DOM fractionation and subsequent disinfection by-product formation. Efficacy of RO was dependent on both isolation conditions and source water characteristics. In general, RO more effectively isolated DOM in high specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA254) water than low SUVA254 water, and showed higher DOM recovery at ambient pH (approximately 7) than at low pH (approximately 4). The fractionation of the isolated DOM indicated that the relative amount of the hydrophobic fraction decreased with increasing k', thus affecting the overall distribution of DOM. However, the distribution of DOM fractions was not influenced by varying C0 up to 150 mg l(-1) at k' of 15. The effect of k' on the formation and speciation of trihalomethanes (THM) and haloacetic acids (HAA) was not significant up to k' of 30.     

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.     

Wet weather impact on trihalomethane formation potential in tributaries to drinking water reservoirs

During rain storm events, land surface runoff and resuspension of bottom sediments cause an increase in Trihalomethane (THM) precursors in rivers. These precursors, when chlorinated at water treatment facilities will lead to the formation of THMs and hence impact drinking water resources. In order to evaluate the wet weather impact on the potential formation of THMs, river samples were collected before, during and after three rain storms ranging from 15.2 to 24.9 mm precipitation. The samples were tested for THM formation potential and other indicators including UV254 absorbance, turbidity and volatile suspended solid (VSS). Average levels of THMs increased from 61 μg/l during dry weather to 131 μg/l during wet weather, and then went back to 81 μg/l after rain ended. Wet weather values of THM are well above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) 80 μg/l, set by EPA for drinking water. THM indicators also exhibited similar trends. Average levels increased from 0.6 to 1.8 abs; 2.6 to 6 ntu; and 7.5 to 15 mg/l respectively for UV254, turbidity and VSS. A positive correlation was observed between THM formation and THM indicators. The t-test of significance (p-value) was less than 0.05 for all indicators, and R values ranged from 0.85 to 0.92 between THMs and the indicators, and 0.72 to 0.9 among indicators themselves.     

七虎林河流域上游溶解性有机质光谱特性分析

七虎林河源头区地表腐殖质随着径流的冲刷进入水体，形成了天然有机质(NOM),其中，溶解性有机质(DOM)易对河流水质造成影响。为了研究七虎林河中DOM的时空分布特征及其对水质的影响，开展了6次采样，分析了水体及土壤吸收光谱和荧光光谱特征参数，利用平行因子(PARAFAC)算法解析了水体DOM的特性及来源。结果表明：七虎林河上游水体五日生化需氧量(BOD₅)、高锰酸盐指数(COD_Mn)、化学需氧量(COD)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)的浓度分别为1.4 mg/L±0.2 mg/L、6.1 mg/L±3.0 mg/L、21 mg/L±8 mg/L、7.0 mg/L±3.2 mg/L,BOD₅/COD平均值为0.08,说明流域内水体DOM的可生化性差，对水质影响较小。光谱特征参数紫外吸收系数(SUVA₂₅₄)、荧光指数(FI)、腐殖化指数(HIX)、生物源指数(BIX)分析结果表明，七虎林河上游云山水库库上林区河段DOM的物质组成与水库及库下河段差异显著。库上河段DOM的芳香碳含量更高、分子量更大、自生源组分...     

Multistep, microvolume resin fractionation combined with 3D fluorescence spectroscopy for improved DOM characterization and water quality monitoring

Conventionally, resin fractionation (RF) method has been widely used to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) found in different source waters based on general and broad DOM fractions grouping. In this study, a new refined method using multistep, microvolume resin fractionation combined with excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (MSM-RF-EEMS) was developed for further isolation and characterization of subfractions within the primary DOM fractions separated from using the conventional RF method. Subsequently, its feasibility in indicating the occurrence of urban pollution in source waters was also assessed. Results from using the new MSM-RF-EEMS method strongly illustrated that several organic subfractions still exist within the regarded primary pure hydrophobic acid (HoA) fraction including the humic- and fulvic-like organic matters, tryptophan- and tyrosine-like proteins. It was found that by using the MSM-RF-EEMS method, the organic subfractions present within the primary DOM fraction could be easily identified and characterized. Further validation on the HoA fraction using the MSM-RF-EEMS method revealed that the constant association of EEM peak T1 (tryptophan) fraction could specifically be used to indicate the occurrence of urban pollution in source water. The correlation analysis on the presence of EEM peak T2 (tyrosine) fraction could be used as a supplementary proof to further verify the presence of urban pollution in source waters. These findings on using the presence of EEM peaks T1 and T2 within the primary HoA fraction would be significant and useful for developing a sensory device for online water quality monitoring.     

Profiling and monitoring of DOM in brewery wastewater and treated wastewater

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in raw and treated wastewater from two breweries in Thailand was profiled and monitored for the purpose of water reclamation. The wastewater and the effluent from the use of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and activated sludge (AS) were collected and analyzed through a resin fractionation method using the fluorescent excitation?Cemission matrix (FEEM) technique. The results revealed that the major organic fractions in the brewery wastewater were hydrophobic acid (HPOA) and hydrophilic base (HPIB), accounting for 65% of total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) mass for brewery A and 56% of total DOC mass for brewery B. The FEEM results indicated that the organic matter in the wastewaters of both breweries were mainly composed of tryptophan-like substances, represented by peaks C (230 nm_Ex/340?C365 nm_Em) and D (265?C295 nm_Ex/315?C390 nm_Em), and humic-like substances, represented by peaks E (290 nm_Ex/400 nm_Em), F (330?C335 nm_Ex/395?C410 nm_Em), and G (255?C265 nm_Ex/435?C455 nm_Em). The analysis revealed that the reduction of DOM occurred mostly during the UASB treatment where most of the DOM reduction resulted from the removal of the HPOA and HPIB fractions. The HPOA fraction, a group of humic-like substances, is of particular concern when reclaiming treated brewery wastewater, and although it was reduced by more than 80% of its initial amount, it was still a dominant DOM fraction in the effluents.     

Ecological risk analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from Laizhou Bay

The current research aims at developing predictive models for trihalomethane (THM) formation in Lebanon based on field-scale investigations as well as laboratory controlled experimentations. Statistical analysis on field data revealed significant correlations for TTHM with chlorine dose, Specific UV-A, and UV(254) absorbing organics. Simulated distribution system-THM tests showed significant correlations with applied chlorine dose, total organic carbon, bromides, contact time, and temperature. Predictive models, formulated using multiple regression approaches, exhibiting the highest coefficients of determination were quadratic for the directly after chlorination (DAC; r(2) = 0.39, p < 0.036) and network (r(2) = 0.33, p < 0.064) THM databases, and logarithmic for the laboratory simulated THM database (r(2) = 0.70, p < 0.001). Computed r(2) values implied low correlations for the DAC and network THM database, and high correlation for the laboratory simulated THM database. Significance of the models were at the 0.05 level for DAC database, 0.10 level for the network database, and very high (<0.01 level) for the laboratory simulated THM database. It is noteworthy to mention that no previous attempts to assess, monitor, and predict THM concentrations in public drinking water have been reported for the country although a large fraction of the population consumes chlorinated public drinking water.     

Comparing removal of trace organic compounds and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) at advanced and traditional water treatment plants

Stability of drinking water can be indicated by the assimilable organic carbon (AOC). This AOC value represents the regrowth capacity of microorganisms and has large impacts on the quality of drinking water in a distribution system. With respect to the effectiveness of traditional and advanced processing methods in removing trace organic compounds (including TOC, DOC, UV₂₅₄, and AOC) from water, experimental results indicate that the removal rate of AOC at the Cheng Ching Lake water treatment plant (which utilizes advanced water treatment processes, and is hereinafter referred to as CCLWTP) is 54%, while the removal rate of AOC at the Gong Yuan water treatment plant (which uses traditional water treatment processes, and is hereinafter referred to as GYWTP) is 36%. In advanced water treatment units, new coagulation–sedimentation processes, rapid filters, and biological activated carbon filters can effectively remove AOC, total organic carbon (TOC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). In traditional water treatment units, coagulation–sedimentation processes are most effective in removing AOC. Simulation results and calculations made using the AutoNet method indicate that TOC, TDS, NH₃-N, and NO₃-N should be regularly monitored in the CCLWTP, and that TOC, temperature, and NH₃-N should be regularly monitored in the GYWTP.     

Spectroscopic Distribution of Dissolved Organic Matter in a Dam Reservoir Impacted by Turbid Storm Runoff

Spectroscopic characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a large dam reservoir were determined using ultraviolet absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate spatial distribution of DOM composition after turbid storm runoff. Water samples were collected along a longitudinal axis of the reservoir at three to four depths after a severe storm runoff. Vertical profiles of turbidity data showed that a turbid water layer was located at a middle depth of the entire reservoir. The spectroscopic characteristics of DOM samples in the turbid water layer were similar to those of terrestrial DOM, as demonstrated by the higher specific UV absorbance (SUVA) and the lower fluorescence emission intensity ratio (F ₄₅₀/F ₅₀₀) compared to other surrounding DOM samples in the reservoir. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that higher content of humic-like DOM composition was contained in the turbid water. Fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) showed that lower content of protein-like aromatic amino acids was present in the turbid water DOM. The highest protein-like fluorescence was typically observed at a bottom layer of each sampling location. The bottom water DOM exhibited extremely high protein-like florescence near the dam site. The particular observation was attributed to the low water temperature and the isolation of the local bottom water due to the upper location of the withdrawal outlet near the dam. Our results suggest that the distribution of DOM composition in a dam reservoir is strongly influenced by the outflow operation, such as selective withdrawal, as well as terrestrial-origin DOM inputs from storm runoff.