Formation and transformation of halonitromethanes from dimethylamine in the presence of bromide during the UV/chlorine disinfection

Abstract

Halonitromethanes (HNMs) is a typical class of nitrogenous disinfection byproducts with high toxicity. The effect of Br^- on the formation and transformation of HNMs from dimethylamine (DMA) during the ultraviolet (UV)/chlorine disinfection has been investigated in current study. Results reveal that only chloronitromethane, dichloronitromethane and trichloronitromethane (TCNM) could be found during the UV/chlorine disinfection. Whereas in the presence of Br^-, nine species of HNMs could be observed simultaneously. When Br^- concentration increased from 0 to 15.0 mg L^-1, the predominant species of HNMs were gradually changed from TCNM to dibromonitromethane and tribromonitromethane, which contributed to 23.37% and 31.07% of total HNMs concentration at 15 mg L^-1 Br^-, respectively. The presence of Br^- not only shifted the chlorinated-HNMs (Cl-HNMs) towards brominated-HNMs (Br-HNMs) but also affected the dominant species and total concentration of HNMs. When Br^- concentration was 4.0 mg L^-1, the formation of HNMs decreased with the increase of pH from 6.0 to 8.0 and increased with the increase of free chlorine and DMA. When free chlorine concentration rose from 0.25 to 1.1 mmol L^-1, Br-HNMs were shifted to Br(Cl)-HNMs and then to Cl-HNMs. According to the findings, possible formation and transformation pathways of HNMs from DMA were proposed in the presence of Br^- during the UV/chlorine disinfection. Finally, it was proved that the effect of Br^- on the trend of HNMs in real water was similar to that in deionized water, but higher HNMs concentrations and delayed peak time were observed in real water. This study can provide the scientific evidence and fundamental data for the applications of UV/chlorine disinfection in the treatment of water containing Br^-.

Keywords: Bromide; Dimethylamine; Disinfection; Halonitromethanes; UV/Chlorine.