Effect of UV/peroxymonosulfate pretreatment on disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation during post-chlorination of humic acid

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Jan;31(1):422-432. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-30908-8. Epub 2023 Nov 28.

Abstract

UV/peroxymonosulfate (UV/PMS) is a promising advanced oxidation technology in water treatment. This study aimed to investigate the impact of UV/PMS on humic acid (HA) and the influence of PMS dosage, pretreatment time, pH pretreatment, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and bicarbonate influencing factors on disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation during post-chlorination. With increased PMS dosage or pretreatment time, the UV/PMS treatment significantly reduced ultraviolet absorbance and increased mineralization. It altered the fractional constituent as humic substances were gradually transformed into building blocks and low-molecular-weight acids. However, most DBP formation increased initially and then decreased after subsequent chlorination. Rising nitrate or nitrite concentrations markedly promoted halonitromethane (HNM) formation. The presence of ammonia had a more significant impact on dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) formation. Bicarbonate in UV/PMS pretreatment increased carbonated disinfection byproduct (C-DBP) formation, whereas it had a negligible impact on nitrogenous disinfection byproduct (N-DBP) formation. The present study revealed the impact of a series of influencing factors on DBP formation in UV/PMS reaction systems, providing comprehensive insights on applying UV/PMS in actual practice.

Keywords: Chlorination; Disinfection byproducts (DBPs); Humic acid (HA); UV/peroxymonosulfate (UV/PMS).

MeSH terms

  • Bicarbonates
  • Chlorine / chemistry
  • Disinfection
  • Halogenation
  • Humic Substances / analysis
  • Nitrates
  • Nitrites
  • Peroxides*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
  • Water Purification*

Substances

  • peroxymonosulfate
  • Humic Substances
  • Nitrates
  • Nitrites
  • Bicarbonates
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Chlorine
  • Peroxides