P.C. Chiang

Effects of bromide on the formation of THMs and HAAs

The role of bromide in the formation and speciation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination was investigated. The molar ratio of applied chlorine to bromide is an important factor in the formation and speciation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and halogenacetic acids (HAAs). A good relationship exists between the molar fractions of THMs and the bromide incorporation factor. The halogen substitution ability of HOBr and HOCl during the formation of THMs and HAAs can be determined based on probability theory. The formation of HAAs, and their respective concentrations, can also be estimated through use of the developed model.

NOM characteristics and treatabilities of ozonation processes.

The objectives of this study were intended to evaluate the effects of the characteristics of natural organic matter on the treatabilities of ozonation, coagulation, filtration, and granular activated carbon processes. The ultra-violet absorbance (UV254) was used as a surrogate parameter to assess each process in reducing the disinfection by-product formation potential (DBPFP). The results indicate that the DBPFP varies with the sources of water samples and treatment processes, but is closely related to the measurement of UV254/DOC. Coagulation/sedimentation can eliminate large molecular weight organic fractions. Both pre- and post-ozonation processes can reduce some of DBP precursors than the conventional treatment process, and are more reliable for reducing the overall DBPFP.

Ozonation of activated carbon and its effects on the adsorption of VOCs exemplified by methylethylketone and benzene

Ozonation can modify the surface property of an activated carbon such as specific surface area, pore volume, and functional group. Results indicate that ozonation can increase the specific surface area of an activated carbon from 783+/-51 to 851+/-25 m2/g due in part to increasing micropores (those below 15 A). However, there is no change in macropore and mesopore upon ozonation. The amount of oxygen functional group (OFG) increases from 197+/-4 to 240+/-4 microeq/g, mostly in hydroxyl and carboxyl groups upon ozone treatment. These oxygen-containing functional groups are stable in the temperature range 30-250 degrees C, but begin to decompose when temperature increases beyond 300 and 350 degrees C. When the temperature reaches 1200 degrees C, all OFGs virtually disappear. The effect of ozone treatment on the adsorption of volatile organic carbon (VOC) was exemplified by methylethylketone (MEK) and benzene. The adsorption density of MEK and benzene by ozone treated activated carbon (AC(O3)) are greater than that by the untreated (AC), with MEK being more adsorbable than benzene. Results of factorial analysis indicate that physical characteristics, namely, micropore, BET surface area, pore diameter (PD), micropore volume (MV) play an important role on benzene and MEK adsorption.

Comparisons of metal leachability for various wastes by extraction and leaching methods.

The objective of this research was to evaluate three extraction tests, i.e., toxicity characteristic leaching procedures (TCLP), extraction procedure (EP), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods, for their ability to extract metals in chemical sludge and incineration bottom ash, in terms of the precision of analytical results. Typical chemical sludges, including the electroplating and dye-stuff sludges, the municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash, the leather debris, and the steel-mill bottom residue containing Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were prepared for the lysimetry test (dynamic testing) to compare with the extraction results. Results show that for bottom residue and dye-stuff sludge, the concentration of metal leached was almost the same between the lysimetry leaching and the TCLP tests. The metal concentration followed the order: TCLP approximately = EP > ASTM. TCLP and EP exhibited almost the same relative standard deviation (RSD) value. Therefore, the results of the TCLP tests for bottom residue and dye-stuff sludge, which have a low metal content and alkalinity, can be used to estimate the metal concentration leached by typical acid rain in Taiwan; whereas the ASTM extraction test may be a better indicator of the lysimetry test.

Effects of polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride coagulant on formation of chlorinated by products in drinking water

The objectives of this research work was to evaluate the reduction of THM precursors by cationic p-DADMAC and determine the correlations between the chlorine demand and trihalomethane formation in the presence of electrolyte solutions and ambient light. The chlorine demand was found to be significantly reduced provided that the H2SO4 electrolyte was fed to the sample solutions. The amount of CHCl3 formation was also decreased when the Na2SO4 electrolyte was introduced in spite of the levels of light intensity. The p-DADMAC can not only effectively remove the turbidity but also reduce the formation of CHCl3. The optimum dosage of p-DADMAC for reducing the turbidity, TOC and CHCl3 in the humic acid and source water samples was determined and depended upon the nature of organics.

Modeling an ozone bubble column for predicting its disinfection efficiency and control of DBP formation

Abstract The prediction models describing the disinfection efficiency, the formation of aldehydes and the control of DBPs in the ozone bubble column were developed through a systematic approach. At low applied ozone doses, the predicted Ct values increased slightly with increasing gas flow rate. As the applied ozone dose increased, the influence of the gas flow rate on the Ct parameters became more apparent. The aldehyde formation increased to a maximum value when the ozone doses increased from 0.2 to 1.1 mg O3/mg TOC; whereas a further increase of the ozone dose to 1.8 mg O3/mg TOC decreased the aldehyde concentrations. The concentration profiles of aldehyde and DBP in the ozone bubble column were modeled at the different ozone dosages and compared with the experimental data. The utilization of a two-step reaction mechanism predicted the aldehyde formation reasonably well. Furthermore, the relationship between the optimization of ozone dosages and the disinfection efficiency, aldehyde formation and control of DBPs was discussed.

Systematic Approach to Quantify Adsorption and Biodegradation Capacities on Biological Activated Carbon Following Ozonation

The goal of this research was to develop a systematic approach to quantify adsorption and biodegradation capacities on biological activated carbon (BAC). The role of absorption and biodegradation on BAC was studied using a continuous column. Several media, i.e., granular activated carbon (GAC), seeded glass bead and seeded GAC, and a target compound (p-hydroxybenzoic acid) were selected. Before breakthrough, the effluent of the GAC column contained a small amount of p-hydroxybenzoic acid that contributed the greatest amount of organic carbon to the effluent of the glass bead column, which suggests that adsorption should be the prevailing mechanism for removal the p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and biodegradation should be responsible for reducing the ozonation intermediates. Also, the bioactivity approach (biomass respiration potential, BRP) of BAC can not only reveal the importance of biodegradation mechanisms for the intermediates of ozonation, but also quantify the extent of the adsorption or biodegradation reaction occurring on BAC.

Diffusivity of microporous carbon for benzene and methyl-ethyl ketone adsorption

Kinetic studies results indicate that the pore diffusion coefficient is from 10 -6 to 10 -8 cm2/sec for both benzene and MEK in the temperature range of 30-120 oC. Under similar adsorbate concentration, MEK exhibits an effective pore diffusion coefficient greater than benzene. This may be attributed to its smaller molecular size being a polar molecular structure attracted to the activated carbon surface. In general, the effective diffusivity of MEK was greater than benzene under the same temperature and similar concentration. The influence of in fluent concentration on effective diffusion coefficient at low temperature is greater than that at high temperature. ©1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

The effect of bromide ion on the formation of organohalogen disinfection by-products during ozonation

Abstract Ozonation of water containing bromide ion (Br−) leads to the formation of brominated disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of bromide ion upon the distribution and variation of organohalogen DBPs. Bromide ion concentration had a negative effect on chloroform formation as opposed to increased formation of brominated trihalomethanes (THMs). The results of factor analysis lead clearly to the interpretation that the bromide ion was strongly correlated with brominated THMs and less strongly with brominated HANs (haloacetonitriles). Compared to THMs and HANs, brominated HAAs (haloacetic acids) demonstrated a relatively weak correlation to bromide ion concentration. The addition of alkalinity enhanced the formation of chloroform when ozonation time was 10 to 30 minutes, while concentrations of other bromide ion-containing THMs decreased with increasing alkalinity.

Ozonation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid solution

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the reaction between ozone and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, in view of kinetic regime and by-product formation. It was found that the highest specific reduction efficiency of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, THMFP and HAAFP occurred within the kinetic regime of slow reaction, other than the very slow reaction regime. Besides, the efficient way to decrease the glyoxal formation, the ozonation by-product, is to control the reaction duration before the ozonation time of peak glyoxal, which fell within the slow reaction kinetic regime as well.