Tao Lin

Occurrence, removal and risk assessment of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in an advanced drinking water treatment plant (ADWTP) around Taihu Lake in China

The occurrence and removal of 39 selected pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) were investigated in an advanced drinking water treatment plant (ADWTP) around Taihu Lake. Fourteen of 39 targeted pharmaceuticals were detected in the raw water. After a series of purification processes, only indomethacin, caffeine and sulfamethoxazole were found in effluent, albeit at concentrations less than 2 ng L(-1). The results of principal component analysis suggested that three main purification processes, oxidation, coagulation combined with sedimentation and filtration combined with bio-degradation, influenced the removal performance of PPCPs. The ecotoxicological and human health risk assessment confirmed that drugs detected in effluent posed no potential toxicity and also suggested that two PPCPs (roxithromycin and sulfamethoxazole), especially sulfamethoxazole, should be seriously considered as candidates for regulatory monitoring and prioritization. Finally, the correlation between removal efficiency and risk quotient indicated that uniform removal efficiency for all PPCPs may not reflect an equal risk control in the ADWTP.

Particle properties in granular activated carbon filter during drinking water treatment.

The elemental composition and bacteria attached in particles were investigated during granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration. The experimental results showed that trapped influent particles could form new, larger particles on GAC surface. The sloughing of individuals off GAC surface caused an increase in effluent particles in the size range from 5 to 25 tm. The selectivity for element removal in GAC filters caused an increasing proportion of metallic elements in the effluent particles. The distribution of molar ratio indicated a complicated composition for large particles, involving organic and inorganic substances. The organic proportion accounted for 40% of total carbon attached to the particles. Compared with dissolved carbon, there was potential for the formation of trihalomethanes by organic carbon attached to particles, especially for those with size larger than 10 im. The pure carbon energy spectrum was found only in the GAC effluent and the size distribution of carbon fines was mainly above 10 microm. The larger carbon fines provided more space for bacterial colonization and stronger protection for attached bacteria against disinfection. The residual attached bacteria after chorine disinfection was increased to 10(2)-l0(3) CFU/mL within 24 hours at 25 degrees C.

The toxicity of a new disinfection by-product, 2,2-dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), on adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) and its occurrence in the chlorinated drinking water.

The detection method of 2,2-dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), a new disinfection by-product (DBP) in chlorinated drinking water, was established using a gas chromatograph coupled with a micro-electron capture detector. The chlorinated water samples were taken from ten drinking water treatment plants around Yangtze River or Taihu Lake in China. The concentration of DCAcAm was detected ranging from 0.5 to 1.8μg/L in the waterworks around Yangtze River, and 1.5-2.6μg/L around Taihu Lake. The toxicity of DCAcAm on adult zebrafish was assessed by investigating the metabolism damage with multiple metabolic biomarkers and the accumulation capability with bio-concentration factor. The results showed that DCAcAm could cause the acute metabolism damage and was easily accumulated in zebrafish, and should be extremely cautioned.

The shadow of dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN), a typical nitrogenous disinfection by-product (N-DBP), in the waterworks and its backwash water reuse

Dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) is one of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs) with strong cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. In this study, the formation potential (FP) of DCAN was investigated in the samples of six important water sources located in the Yangtze River Delta. The highest formation concentration of DCAN was 9.05xa0μg/L in the water sample taken from Taihu Lake with the lowest SUVA value. After the NOM fractionation, the conversion rate of hydrophilic fraction to DCAN was found the highest. Subsequently, a waterworks using Taihu Lake as water source was chosen to research the FP variations of DCAN in the treatment process and backwash water. The results showed that, compared to the conventional treatment process, O/biological activated carbon (BAC) process increased the removal efficiency of DCAN from 21.89% to 50.58% by removing aromatic protein and soluble biological by-products as main precursors of DCAN. The DCAN FP in the effluent of BAC filters using old granular activated carbon was higher than that in the influent and the DCAN FP of its backwash water was lower than that in raw water. In the backwash water of sand filters, the DCAN FP higher than raw water required the recycle ratio less than 5% to avoid the accumulation of DCAN.

The removal process of 2,2-dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), a new disinfection by-product, in drinking water treatment process and its toxicity on zebrafish

The removal process of 2,2-dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), a new disinfection by-product (DBP) in conventional drinking water treatment plant (C-DWTP) and advanced DWTP (ADWTP) was studied with newly maximum formation potential (MFP) process. It was demonstrated that the advanced treatment displayed greater removal efficiency towards DCAcAm formation potential (MFP) than the conventional treatment. The hydrophilic natural organic matter and natural organic matter with molecular weight <1xa0kDa or >10xa0kDa leaded to more DCAcAm formation, and the aromatic protein was inferred as one part of DCAcAm precursor. DCAcAm was found to cause delayed development and malformation to zebrafish embryos at embryonic growth stage. Compared with heart toxicity, it caused a significant neuron toxicity. It also could cause the acute DNA damage to adult zebrafish, which should be extremely cautioned.

Removal of the precursors of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), an emerging disinfection byproduct, in drinking water treatment process and its toxicity to adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is one of the emerging nitrogenous disinfection byproducts with probable cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenesis. Its potential toxicological effects have received extensive attention but remain to be poorly understood. In this study, changes in NDEA precursors in drinking water treatment process were studied using the trial of its formation potential (FP), and the toxicity induced by NDEA to adult zebrafish was investigated. NDEA FP in the raw water of Taihu Lake ranged from 46.9 to 68.3xa0ng/L. The NDEA precursors were removed effectively by O3/BAC process. Hydrophilic fraction and low-molecular-weight fraction (<1xa0kDa) had the highest NDEA FP. The toxicity results demonstrated that the acute lethal concentration of NDEA causing 50% mortality in 96xa0h (96-h LC50) was 210.4xa0mg/L, and NDEA was more likely to be accumulated in kidney, followed by liver and gill. NDEA induced oxidative stress and antioxidant defense to zebrafish metabolism system at concentrations over 5xa0μg/L. After a 42-day exposure, a significant DNA damage was observed in zebrafish liver cells at NDEA concentrations beyond 500xa0μg/L. This study investigated NDEA properties in both engineering prospective and toxicity evaluation, thus providing comprehensive information on its control in drinking water treatment process and its toxicity effect on zebrafish as a model animal.

Optimization of the precursor removal of dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN), an emerging nitrogenous disinfection by-product, in an up-flow BAC filter

The process parameters of the up-flow biological activated carbon filter (UBACF) were optimized in a pilot-scale trial for controlling the precursor of dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN), an emerging nitrogenous disinfection by-product. The experiments were performed using a central composite design (CCD) with the response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the removal efficiencies of formation potentials (FP) of DCAN increased from 28.9% to 64.4% with the optimized ozone dose, expansion rate of BAC and backwashing cycle, being scheduled to 1.52xa0mg/L, 27% and 9.5xa0d, respectively. Excitation and emission matrix (EEM) spectra indicated that the fluorescence peaks of aromatic protein (AP) and soluble microbial products-like (SMPs)-like region were weakened significantly in the effluent of improved process (IP) with optimization, which were main precursors of DCAN. The bacterial community before and after the optimization of UBACF was determined using the high-throughput sequencing technology. The class and genus of microorganism demonstrated that the IP had a more diverse microbial community and more even distribution of species in BAC filter. It was favor of the growth of Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli and Betaproteobacteria attached to the BAC particles, which could biodegrade effectively the precursors of DCAN.

Effect on membrane fouling and intrinsic characteristics of UF subjected to potassium permanganate pre-oxidation

AbstractThe Extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek approach was used to investigate the mechanism of membrane fouling control with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) pre-oxidation in an ultrafiltration (UF) system. The polymeric membrane, made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), was selected as membrane material in the investigation. Results demonstrated that KMnO4 pre-oxidation increased the hydrophilicities of both membrane material and organic colloid and that the absolute value of calculated total interaction energy decreased by 33.5 and 33.6%, respectively, indicating the amelioration of membrane fouling. The results of transmembrane pressure and membrane resistance confirmed the mitigation of membrane fouling. It was found that the average pore size of the membrane material was decreased when UF system was subjected to KMnO4. The characteristics of influent organic colloids were changed due to KMnO4 pre-oxidation.

Experimental Study on Inactivation of Copepod with Current Available Oxidants

The inactivation of Copepod with available oxidants such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone and potassium permanganate were investigated under various working conditions of different oxidant dosage, organic substance content and pH value. The results showed that chlorine dioxide might be most effective to inactivate Copepod than other oxidants and complete inactivation effect may be attained by 1.0 mg/L of chlorine dioxide, on which extraneous factors such as organic matter content and pH value had little influence. But for chlorine and ozone, the required dosage of complete inactivation was 2.0 mg/L. Only 60% of Copepod was inactivated by 2.0 mg/L of potassium permanganate contacting for 30 min. The influence of pH value on inactivation rate of chlorine and potassium permanganate were more sensitive than that of chlorine dioxide and ozone. The influence of organic substance on ozone was the most visible and the experimental results indicated the decreased inactivation rate from 100% at TOC concentration of 0 mg/L to 10% at 8 mg/L. The removal effect on Copepod by chlorine dioxide preoxidation cooperating with conventional clarification process was investigated in full scale experiment. Complete removal was attained by 0.8 mg/L of chlorine dioxide preoxidation cooperating with subsequent clarification.

Removal of disinfection byproduct precursors and reduction in additive toxicity of chlorinated and chloraminated waters by ozonation and up-flow biological activated carbon process

The variations of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors and DBPs-associated toxic potencies were evaluated by ozonation, followed by a up-flow biological activated carbon (O3/UBAC) filter treating two reconstituted water samples, featuring either high bromide (105.3u202fμg/L) or dissolved organic nitrogen (0.73u202fmgu202fN/L) concentration, respectively. Ozonation contributed to ∼20% decrease in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration at a dosage of 0.7u202fmg of O3/mg of DOC, but no further reduction in DOC level was observed with an increased dose of 1.0u202fmg of O3/mg of DOC. When chlorine or preformed monochloramine was used as a disinfectant, UBAC process led to ∼40% reduction in the sum of detected DBP formation potential (FP) due to the removal of precursors at a feasible empty bed contact time of 15u202fmin. The integrated effect of ozonation and UBAC biofiltration decreased the sum of DBP FP by ∼50% including halonitromethanes (THNMs), N-nitrosamines (NAs), and bromate, which increased in the effluent of ozonation. Chloramination produced less DBPs by weight as well as DBPs-associated additive toxic potencies than chlorination. The reduction in additive toxic potencies was generally lower than the removal efficiency of DBP FP after chlor(am)ination of treated waters by O3/UBAC, indicating that the removal of DBPs-associated additive toxic potencies should be focused to better understand on the residual risk to public health in controlling DBP precursors.