N-nitrosamine Formation by Monochloramine, Free Chlorine, and Peracetic Acid Disinfection with Presence of Amine Precursors in Drinking Water System
Abstract
In this study, the formation of eight N-nitrosamines, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosomethylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine, N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine, N-Nitrosopiperidine, N-Nitrosopyrrolidine, N-Nitrosomorpholine, were systematically evaluated with respect to seven N-nitrosamine precursors (dimethylamine, trimethylamine, 3-(dimethylaminomethyl)indole, 4-dimethylaminoantipyrine, ethylmethylamine, diethylamine, dipropylamine) and three disinfectants (monochloramine, free chlorine, peracetic acid) under variable dosages, exposure times, and pH in a drinking water system. Without the presence of the seven selected N-nitrosamine precursors N-nitrosamine formation was not observed under any tested condition except very low levels of N-Nitrosopyrrolidine under some conditions. With selected N-nitrosamine precursors present N-nitrosamines formed at different levels under different conditions. The highest N-nitrosamine formation was NDMA with a maximum concentration of 1180 ng/L by monochloramine disinfection with precursors present; much lower levels of N-nitrosamines were formed by free chlorine disinfection; and no detectable level of N-nitrosamines were observed by peracetic acid disinfection except low level of N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine under some conditions. NDMA formation was not affected by pH while four other N-nitrosamine formations were slightly affected by sample pH tested between 7 and 9, with formation decreasing with increasing pH. Monochloramine exposure time study displayed fast formation of N-nitrosamines, largely formed in four hours of exposure and maximized after seven days. This was a systematic study on the N-nitrosamine formation with the seven major N-nitrosamine precursors presence and absence under different conditions, including peracetic acid disinfection which has not been studied elsewhere.
Recommended Citation
D. M. West et al., "N-nitrosamine Formation by Monochloramine, Free Chlorine, and Peracetic Acid Disinfection with Presence of Amine Precursors in Drinking Water System," Chemosphere, vol. 153, pp. 521 - 527, Elsevier Ltd, Jun 2016.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.03.035
Department(s)
Chemistry
Keywords and Phrases
Drinking Water Disinfection By Peracetic Acid; Emerging Water Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs); N-nitrosamine Formation; N-nitrosamine Precursors; N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0045-6535
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jun 2016