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Factors Affecting the Formation of Organic By-Products During Water Chlorination: A Bench-Scale Study

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Abstract

The formation of chlorination by-products (CBPs) was investigated through bench-scale chlorination experiments with river water. The compounds selected for analysis belonged to the groups of trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, haloketones and haloacetonitriles. Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids were the major species formed during chlorination, while haloketones and haloacetonitriles occurred at lower levels. The factors affecting the formation of these compounds were examined by two sets of experiments; the first with varying pH and reaction time, and the second with varying chlorine dose and temperature. Different effects of these factors were observed for different categories of CBPs, and in many cases, these effects were compound-specific, as confirmed by statistical analysis. Optimization of chlorination conditions in water treatment plants is a critical issue that should take into account the influence of chlorination parameters on the formation of individual CBPs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water and Air Quality Laboratory, Department of Environmental Studies, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Greece

    Anastasia D. Nikolaou & Themistokles D. Lekkas

  2. Department of Financial and Management Engineering, University of the Aegean, Fostini 31, 82100, Chios, Greece

    Spyros K. Golfinopoulos

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, 313B More Hall, Box 352700, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A

    George B. Arhonditsis

Authors
  1. Anastasia D. Nikolaou
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  2. Spyros K. Golfinopoulos
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  3. Themistokles D. Lekkas
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  4. George B. Arhonditsis
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Nikolaou, A.D., Golfinopoulos, S.K., Lekkas, T.D. et al. Factors Affecting the Formation of Organic By-Products During Water Chlorination: A Bench-Scale Study. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 159, 357–371 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WATE.0000049189.61762.61

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WATE.0000049189.61762.61

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