Elimination of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) during UV/chlorine process: Influence factors, transformation pathway and DBP formation

Julong Sun; Shiqing Zhou; Da Sheng; Nan Li; Jue Wang; Changbo Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131426

Elimination of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) during UV/chlorine process: Influence factors, transformation pathway and DBP formation

Chemosphere. 2021 Dec:284:131426. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131426. Epub 2021 Jul 3.

Authors

Julong Sun¹, Shiqing Zhou², Da Sheng³, Nan Li³, Jue Wang³, Changbo Jiang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Building Safety and Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Education, Department of Water Engineering and Science, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, 410114, China.
² Key Laboratory of Building Safety and Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Education, Department of Water Engineering and Science, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China. Electronic address: shiqingzhouwater@163.com.
³ Key Laboratory of Building Safety and Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Education, Department of Water Engineering and Science, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, 410114, China.

PMID: 34323795
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131426

Abstract

As a new cyanobacterial neurotoxin generated by cyanobacteria, BMAA was closely related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS/PDC). In this study, the degradation of BMAA by UV/chlorine process was investigated under the impacts of chlorine dosage, NOM dosage, pH and alkalinity. Results showed that only 10% of BMAA was removed by UV irradiation and 46.8% by chlorination in 5 min, however, 98.6% of BMAA was removed by UV/chlorine process in 5 min. The reaction rates were increased under alkaline conditions, but all achieved complete degradation in 5 min. Besides, HCO₃^- had slight inhibition, while NOM had significant inhibition on the degradation of BMAA. Furthermore, based on the detected degradation products of BMAA during UV/chlorine process, the possible degradation pathways were concluded. Overall, outcomes of this study exhibited that the use of the UV/chlorine process for BMAA degradation was appropriate in practical applications.

Keywords: BMAA; Disinfection byproducts; Influence factors; Intermediates; UV/Chlorine.

MeSH terms

Amino Acids, Diamino*
Chlorine*
Cyanobacteria Toxins
Halogenation
Neurotoxins / analysis

Substances

Amino Acids, Diamino
Cyanobacteria Toxins
Neurotoxins
beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine
Chlorine