Dr Gillian Clayton Gillian.Clayton@uwe.ac.uk
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Comparison of trihalomethane formation using chlorine-based disinfectants within a model system; Applications within point-of-use drinking water treatment
Clayton, Gillian E.; Thorn, Robin M.S.; Reynolds, Darren M.
Authors
Robin Thorn Robin2.Thorn@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor Molecular Life Sciences
Darren Reynolds Darren.Reynolds@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Health and Environment
Abstract
© 2019 Clayton, Thorn and Reynolds. Point-of-use (POU) drinking water treatment systems provide solutions for communities where centralized facilities are unavailable. Effective POU systems treat and reduce the number of pathogens in POU water supplies often employing disinfection. Chlorine disinfection results in the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as trihalomethanes (THMs), through the reaction of chlorine with natural organic matter (NOM) over time. Although THMs are known to be harmful to human health, little is known about their production within POU systems. This study compares the disinfectants; Electrochemically Activated Solutions (ECAS), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), with respect to their potential to produce THMs within POU drinking water systems. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was utilized to quantify THMs in treated water samples containing NOM (Suwannee River humic acid, 4 mg L -1 ). All disinfection treatments were matched to free chlorine concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 mg L -1 , using reaction times of 1, 5, and 10 min. THMs were produced at free chlorine concentrations of 5 mg L -1 and at reaction times of 5 and 10 min for all disinfectants. ECAS or HOCl, resulted in the formation of significantly lower total THM concentrations across all reaction times and free chlorine concentrations, compared to NaOCl. ECAS can be generated at the POU requiring only water, salt and energy for production, and this study demonstrates that its use results in reduced formation of THMs, compared with NaOCl. Further work is required to replicate these findings within scaled-up POU water treatment systems.
Citation
Clayton, G. E., Thorn, R. M., & Reynolds, D. M. (2019). Comparison of trihalomethane formation using chlorine-based disinfectants within a model system; Applications within point-of-use drinking water treatment. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 7, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00035
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Feb 28, 2019 |
Online Publication Date | Mar 22, 2019 |
Publication Date | Mar 22, 2019 |
Deposit Date | Mar 4, 2019 |
Journal | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Electronic ISSN | 2296-665X |
Publisher | Frontiers Media |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 7 |
Article Number | 35 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00035 |
Keywords | electrochemically activated solutions, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), point-of-use decentralised drinking water treatment system, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), trihalomethane formation |
Public URL | https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/850262 |
Publisher URL | https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00035 |
Files
fenvs-07-00035 (1).pdf
(3 Mb)
PDF
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