The removal of organic precursors of DBPs during three advanced water treatment processes including ultrafiltration, biofiltration, and ozonation.

The removal efficiency of organic matter, the formation potential of trihalomethanes (THMFP), and the formation potential of haloacetic acids (HAAFP) in each unit of three advanced treatment processes were investigated in this paper. The molecular weight distribution and the components of organic matter in water samples were also determined to study the transformation of organic matter during these advanced treatments. Low-molecular-weight matter was the predominant fraction in raw water, and it could not be removed effectively by ultrafiltration and biofiltration. The dominant species of disinfection by-product formation potential (DBPFP) in raw water were chloroform and monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), with average concentrations of 107.3 and 125.9 µg/L, respectively. However, the formation potential of chloroform and MCAA decreased to 36.2 and 11.5 µg/L after ultrafiltration. Similarly, biological pretreatment obtained high removal efficiency for DBPFP. The total THMFP decreased from 173.8 to 81.8 µg/L, and the total HAAFP decreased from 211.9 to 84.2 µg/L. Separate ozonation had an adverse effect on DBPFP, especially for chlorinated HAAFP. Numerous low-molecular-weight compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols were generated during the ozonation, which have been proven to be important precursors of HAAs. However, the ozonation/biological activated carbon (BAC) combined process had a better removal efficiency for DBPFP. The total DBPFP decreased remarkably from 338.7 to 113.3 µg/L after the O3/BAC process, far below the separated BAC of process B (189.1 µg/L).

Effects of bromide and iodide ions on the formation of disinfection by-products during ozonation and subsequent chlorination of water containing biological source matters.

This study aims to investigate the influence of the coexistence of halogen ions (bromide/iodide) and biological source matters on the speciation and yield of trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) during the ozonation and subsequent chlorination of water. The results show that the concentrations of brominated THMs and iodinated THMs increased with increasing bromide and iodide concentration. These results may be attributed to the higher reactivity of hypobromous acid and hypoiodous acid generated from the ozonation and subsequent chlorination in the presence of bromide or iodide ions. The presence of bromide increased the species of brominated HAAs. There was a shift from chlorinated HAAs to brominated HAAs after increasing the concentration of bromide. The effect of iodide on HAA formation was more complex than bromide. For most samples, the concentration of total HAAs (T-HAAs) increased to the maximum and then decreased with increasing iodide concentration. The components of the organic precursors also significantly influenced the formation of brominated and iodinated disinfection by-products (Br-DBPs and I-DBPs). Humic acids produced more CHBr3 (596.60 µg/L) than other organic materials. Microcystis aeruginosa cells produced the most tribromoacetic acid (TBAA, 84.16 µg/L). Furthermore, the yield of NDMA decreased with increasing bromide concentration, indicating that the formation of NDMA was inhibited by the high concentration of bromide.

The effect of continuous Zn (II) exposure on the organic degradation capability and soluble microbial products (SMP) of activated sludge.

This study describes the change of organic degradation capability and soluble microbial products (SMP) generated in activated sludge under continuous exposure to Zn (II) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). In 338 days of operation, the added Zn (II) concentrations were gradually increased from 50 to 100, 200, 400 to 600 and 800 mg/L. Results showed that after adaptation, the activated sludge could endure 400mg/L Zn (II) without showing evident reduction in organic degradation ability (92±1% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in stable state). However, when 600 and 800 mg/L Zn (II) were applied, the effluent water quality significantly deteriorated. Meanwhile, under increasing Zn (II) concentrations, the SMP content in the activated sludge, together with its main biochemical constituents, first increased slightly below 400mg/L of Zn (II), then rose sharply under 600 and 800 mg/L Zn (II). Furthermore, a close correlation was found between SMP content and effluent soluble COD in both the Experimental Reactor and Control Reactor. In addition, the Zn (II) concentrations in the effluent and SMP extraction liquid were further analyzed and discussed to reveal the role that SMP constituents played in defense and resistance to the toxicity of Zn (II).