Trihalomethane formation in ozonated and chlorinated surface water

The relatively recent discovery of disinfection by-products has driven the main regulatory organisms to set maximum contaminant levels for certain substances in drinking water. Trihalomethanes can be deemed as the most important group of by-products in chlorinated surface waters. The present work has focused on trihalomethane formation in a full-scale water treatment plant. We studied the effect of several factors, including ozonation, on trihalomethane levels in chlorinated treated water. The treatment scheme also includes an ozonation step. Electronic Publication     

The impact of UV treatment on microbial control and DBPs formation in full-scale drinking water systems in northern China

To manage potential microbial risks and meet increasingly strict drinking water health standards, UV treatment has attracted increasing attention for use in drinking water systems in China. However, the effects of UV treatment on microbial control and disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation in real municipal drinking water systems are poorly understood. Here, we collected water samples from three real drinking water systems in Beijing and Tianjin to investigate the impacts of UV treatment on microbial control and DBP formation. We employed heterotrophic plate count (HPC), flow cytometry (FCM), quantitative PCR analysis, and high-throughput sequencing to measure microorganisms in the samples. Different trends were observed between HPC and total cell count (measured by FCM), indicating that a single indicator could not reflect the real degree of biological re-growth in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). A significant increase in the 16S rRNA gene concentration was observed when the UV system was stopped. Besides, the bacterial community composition was similar at the phylum level but differed markedly at the genera level among the three DWDSs. Some chlorine-resistant bacteria, including potential pathogens (e.g., Acinetobacter) showed a high relative abundance when the UV system was turned off. It can be concluded that UV treatment can mitigate microbial re-growth to some extent. Finally, UV treatment had a limited influence on the formation of DBPs, including trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and nitrogenated DBPs. The findings of this study may help to understand the performance of UV treatment in real drinking water systems.     

Photolysis of a mixture of anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene at ultra-trace levels in natural water with disinfection purposes

The photodegradation of anthracene(AN) and benzo[a]pyrene(BaP),two priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs),was examined at ultra-trace levels in surface water to elucidate their behaviour under several irradiance values and types of radiation.The emitting flux and the spectrum of the lamps were found to develop a crucial role in AN and BaP degradation since removal efficiencies of the target contaminants higher than 99%were found after 15 min of irradiation under an ultraviolet C(UVC) irradiance of 0.63 mW/cm~2,corresponding to a fluence of 560.25 mJ/cm~2.On the other hand,although ultraviolet A(UVA) lamps exhibited a higher irradiance compared to that of UVC lamps,they were not efficient for degrading the target PAHs.The removal kinetic studies corroborated these findings,being the AN elimination rate in surface water higher than that in deionized water at optimal operating conditions.Disinfection potential was also measured.A rapid microbial load inactivation,in terms of total coliforms naturally contained in the water matrix studied,was evidenced within 15 min of treatment for the fluence referred.However,after 24 hr in the dark,a regrowth was observed.Additionally,photolysis products more toxic than the parent compounds were found,which were not removed even by extending the treatment time.In this regard,it can be concluded that the individual action of UVC light for removing AN and BaP with disinfection purposes is not an efficient treatment;therefore,the use of radiation in combination with other kinds of treatments is required.     

掺硼金刚石膜电极电化学氧化双酚A的影响因素及机理研究

采用响应曲面法系统研究了掺硼金刚石(Boron-doped Diamond,BDD)膜电极电化学氧化双酚A (BisphenolA,BPA)的影响因素及含氯副产物的生成。结果表明,电流密度是影响降解速率常数(k)和氯离子消耗量(Δc(Cl-))的最主要因素。以BPA有效降解的同时生成较少量的含氯副产物为标准,通过响应曲面法计算得到的最优反应条件为:对0. 06 mmol/L BPA、40 mmol/L NaCl(pH=8)的溶液,当电流密度为15 mA/cm2时,k为0. 318 min-1,Δc(Cl-)仅为3. 55 mmol/L。BDD电极电解不仅生成了高浓度的高氯酸盐,还生成了1,1,2,2-四氯乙烷、2,3,4,6-四氯苯酚和五氯苯酚等仅在BDD体系中被检测到的含氯有机副产物。综上,经BDD电极电化学氧化处理后尽管整个BPA溶液的毒性明显降低,但还需特别关注反应过程中生成的含氯副产物。     

Remediation of DDT-Contaminated Water and Soil by Using Pretreated Iron Byproducts from the Automotive Industry

The objective of this study was to quantify the effectiveness of different pretreated iron byproducts from the automotive industry to degrade DDT [(1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethane] in aqueous solutions and soil slurry. Iron byproducts from automotive manufacturing were pretreated by three different methods (heating, solvent and 0.5N HCl acid washing) prior to experimentation. All pretreated irons were used at 5% (wt v^{? 1}) to treat 0.014 mM (5 mgL^{? 1}) of DDT in aqueous solution. Among the pretreated irons, acid pretreated iron results in the fastest destruction rates, with a pseudo first-order degradation rate of 0.364 d^{? 1}. By lowering the pH of the DDT aqueous solution from 9 to 3, destruction kinetic rates increase more than 20%. In addition, when DDT-contaminated soil slurry (3.54 mg kg^{? 1}) was incubated with 5% (wt v^{? 1}) acid-pretreated iron, more than 90% destruction of DDT was observed within 8 weeks. Moreover, DDT destruction kinetics were enhanced when Fe(II), Fe(III) or Al(III) sulfate salts were added to the soil slurry, with the following order of destruction kinetics: Al(III) sulfate > Fe(III) sulfate > Fe(II) sulfate. These results provide proof-of concept that inexpensive iron byproducts of the automotive industry can be used to remediate DDT-contaminated water and soil.     

3种典型消毒副产物对细菌抗生素抗性的影响

本文研究了消毒副产物对细菌抗生素抗性的作用.分别选取三卤甲烷类(THMs)、卤乙酸类(HAAs)以及醛类消毒副产物中典型物质一氯二溴甲烷(CDBM)、碘乙酸(IAA)和水合三氯乙醛(CH),研究了细菌经消毒副产物染毒之后,对多种抗生素的抗性变化情况.结果发现,3种消毒副产物均可以诱导野生型铜绿假单胞菌提高对5种受试抗生素的抗性,提高作用IAACHCDBM.IAA对多重抗性也具有一定的提高作用.野生型大肠杆菌的抗生素抗性同样能够被DBPs诱导提高,说明DBPs对抗性的影响具有普遍性.其作用机制可能是DBPs通过氧化胁迫机制诱导细菌发生突变,进而提高细菌抗生素抗性.本研究表明饮用水系统中部分细菌抗生素抗性的获得可能与消毒副产物有关;除毒理学风险外,消毒副产物的流行病学风险同样不容忽视.     

THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF DUAL PURPOSE NUCLEAR DESALINATION OF GROUND WATER1

ABSTRACT: The economic feasibility of a large scale dual purpose (desalting water and power production) facility were evaluated. Although a site in the Tularosa basin of southern New Mexico was chosen as a case study for this analysis, it is believed that the approach and consequential results would be applicable to alternative sites in the Southwest. The basic project evaluated included: a) a ground water well field; b) a dual purpose, nuclear, desalination plant; c) a mineral recovery plant; and d) a reservoir for recreation and irrigation storage. Principle project outputs included electrical power, minerals, recreation, and water for either irrigated agricultural production or export to an adjoining river basin. Two alternative project designs were developed for detailed analysis. The first alternative encompassed all major project components. The results, in discounted net values used to assess the feasibility of the project, were essentially negative; that is, values were less than zero for full scale development. The net benefits ranged from $-986.57 million at a 5 percent discount rate, to $-1,137.528 million at a discount rate of 10 percent. In the second alternative, exportation of the desalted water from the Tularosa basin to two adjacent rivers was analyzed with somewhat better net benefits, ranging from $-382,527 million to $-478,612 million at the 5 and 10 percent discount rates.     

Size and resin fractionations of dissolved organic matter and trihalomethane precursors from four typical source waters in China

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its potential to form disinfection by-products (DBPs) during drinking water treatment raise challenges to water quality control. Understanding both chemical and physical characteristics of DOM in source waters is key to better water treatment. In this study, the DOM from four typical source waters in China was fractionated by XAD resin adsorption (RA) and ultrafiltration (UF) techniques. The trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) of all fractions in the DOM were investigated to reveal the major THM precursors. The fraction distributions of DOM could be related to their geographical origins in a certain extent. The dominant chemical fraction as THM precursors in the DOM from south waters (East-Lake reservoir in Shenzhen and Peal rivers in Guangzhou) was hydrophobic acid (HoA). The size fraction with molecular weight (MW) <1 kDa in both south waters had the highest THMFP. The results of cluster analysis showed that the parameters of fractions including DOC percentage (DOC%), UV₂₅₄%, SUVA₂₅₄ (specific UV₂₅₄ absorbance) and THMFP were better for representing the differences of DOM from the studied waters than specific THMFP (STHMFP). The weak correlation between SUVA₂₅₄ and STHMFP for either size or XAD fractions suggests that whether SUVA₂₅₄ can be used as an indicator for the reactivity of THM formation is highly dependent on the nature of organic matter.     

Effects of copper(II) and copper oxides on THMs formation in copper pipe

Little is known about how the growth of trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water is affected in copper pipe. The formation of THMs and chlorine consumption in copper pipe under stagnant flow conditions were investigated. Experiments for the same water held in glass bottles were performed for comparison. Results showed that although THMs levels firstly increased in the presence of chlorine in copper pipe, faster decay of chlorine as compared to the glass bottle affected the rate of THMs formation. The analysis of water phase was supplemented by surface analysis of corrosion scales using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed the scales on the pipe surface mainly consisted of Cu₂O, CuO and Cu(OH)₂ or CuCO₃. Designed experiments confirmed that the fast depletion of chlorine in copper pipe was mainly due to effect of Cu₂O, CuO in corrosion scales on copper pipe. Although copper(II) and copper oxides showed effect on THMs formation, the rapid consumption of chlorine due to copper oxide made THM levels lower than that in glass bottles after 4 h. The transformations of CF, DCBM and CDBM to BF were accelerated in the presence of copper(II), cupric oxide and cuprous oxide. The effect of pH on THMs formation was influenced by effect of pH on corrosion of copper pipe. When pH was below 7, THMs levels in copper pipe was higher as compared to glass bottle, but lower when pH was above 7.     

UV-H2O2 based AOP and its integration with biological activated carbon treatment for DBP reduction in drinking water

The presence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in drinking water is of great concern due to their adverse effects on human health. Emerging regulation limiting the concentration of DBPs in drinking water has increased demands for technologies and processes which reduce the formation of DBPs in drinking water. In this study, UV-H₂O₂ based advance oxidation process (AOP) was used to treat raw surface water. Experiments were conducted using low pressure mercury vapor UV lamps in collimated beam and flow-through annular photoreactors. The effect of UV fluence (0–3500 mJ cm⁻²) and hydrogen peroxide concentration (0–23 mg l⁻¹) in reducing the concentration of THMs and HAAs was examined. The UV-H₂O₂ AOP was then coupled with a downstream biological activated carbon (BAC) treatment to assess the synergetic benefits of combining the two treatments. It was observed that UV-H₂O₂ AOP was only effective at reducing DBPs at UV fluences of more than 1000 mJ cm⁻²and initial H₂O₂ concentrations of about or greater than 23 mg l⁻¹. However, the combined AOP–BAC treatment showed significant reductions of 43%, 52%, and 59% relative to untreated raw water for DBPs, TOC, and UV₂₅₄, respectively.