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Effects of Sulfite on Disinfection Byproducts

Compagnie Generale des Eaux, 8/3/87-8/28/88

PI: Reckhow
Post-Doc: Croue

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the reaction of sodium sulfite with organohalides formed during the chlorination of dilute solutions of aquatic fulvic acid. These experiments were performed at neutral pH's and in the presence or absence of bromide. The first phase of experiments was designed to investigate the overall effect of sulfite on chlorination byproducts, and to identify those volatile and semi-volatile organohalogen products that were especially reactive with sodium sulfite. The second phase was designed to determine the kinetics of dehalogenation for selected chlorination byproducts.

Proposal, Plans and Reports

• Report on Mass Spectra of DBPs
• Final Report: Croue Report

Project Data

• Croue Notebook
• Kinetic plots

 

Publications based on this work

• Croue, J.-P., and D.A. Reckhow, "The Destruction of Chlorination Byproducts with Sulfite," Environmental Science & Technology, 23:1412-1419 (1989). [CN19]

Conference presentations based on this work

• Croue, J.-P., D.A. Reckhow and T. Potter, "The Destruction of Chlorination Byproducts with Sulfite," oral presentation at the 1988 AWWA National Conference, Orlando FL.

 

Other UMass Projects Supported by CGE

• "Coagulation and Ozonation for Control of Natural Organic Matter and Disinfection Byproducts", Compagnie Generale des Eaux, 6/25/84-6/21/85.
• "Decomposition of Taste and Odor Compounds with Sulfite" (David A. Reckhow, PI) Compagnie Generale des Eaux, and Le Syndicat des Eaux de l'Ile de France, 11/1/89-12/31/90

 

Additional Background: It is well known that the chlorination of humic substances leads to the formation of volatile and non-volatile halogenated compounds. In general, these compounds are the same as those observed after chlorination of natural surface water or drinking water. These compounds are also believed to be responsible for much of the mutagenic activity found in finished drinking waters. Most control technologies for hazardous chlorination byproducts (e.g., preoxidation, optimized coagulation, moving the point of chlorination) involve improved removal of organo-halide precursors. Other control technologies act by reducing the extent of reaction between chlorine and precursors (e.g., moving the point of chlorination, use of chloramines), thereby sacrificing some disinfection. Technologies for the removal of previously formed organo-halides (e.g., gas stripping, carbon adsorption) are often considered too expensive for widespread use. This research considers a potentially inexpensive means of removing pre-formed organo-halides, chemical reduction using a nontoxic nucleophile such as sulfite.

 

 

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