The contribution of dissolved organic nitrogen and chloramines to nitrogenous disinfection byproduct formation from natural organic matter.

Yi-Hsueh Chuang, Angela Yu-Chen Lin, Xiao-huan Wang, Hsin-hsin Tung

Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 71 Chou-Shan Rd., Taipei City 10673, Taiwan.

Water research 2013 Mar 1

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The direct incorporation of chloramines and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) may provide the nitrogen for nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (N-DBPs). This study explores the contributions of natural DON and chloramine incorporation to the formation of N-DBPs during chloramination. This study also evaluates the relationship between N-DBPs and carbonaceous DBPs by investigating four sources of dissolved organic matter with different DON-to-dissolved organic carbon (DOC) ratios. During chloramination, dihaloacetonitrile (DXAN) formation is correlated with the summation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and dichloroacetic acids (DXAAs) yield in molar basis at pH > 6. This study tests the formation kinetics of THMs, DXAAs, and DXANs during chloramination, explores the changes in DBP formation potential before and after a sequence of ozonation and chloramination, and tracks the nitrogen source of dichloroacetonitrile. The results support the hypothesis that THMs, DXAAs, and DXANs mainly derive from similar precursors upon chloramination. In addition, the precursor of HANs was approximately 10% (on a molar basis) of that of THMs and HAAs combined. The N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation potential is correlated with DON/DOC in hydrophilic and transphilic fractions. Isotope (15)N-labeled monochloramine coupled with LC-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry was used to explore the nitrogen source of NDMA formed in chloraminated organic fractions. The results indicate that the nitroso group of the formed NDMA originates mainly from chloramines. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Yi-Hsueh Chuang, Angela Yu-Chen Lin, Xiao-huan Wang, Hsin-hsin Tung. The contribution of dissolved organic nitrogen and chloramines to nitrogenous disinfection byproduct formation from natural organic matter. Water research. 2013 Mar 1;47(3):1308-16