Natural organic matter removal and enhanced coagulation as a link between coagulation and electrocoagulation

Abstract

Although coagulation has historically been used for turbidity removal, drinking water regulations have emerged in recent years expanding the use of this process beyond its traditional role to include disinfection by-products (DBP) precursors removal. Effective removal of DBP precursors is the one of the major challenges in modern drinking water treatment. DBP precursors are present in all surface water supplies existing as natural organic matter (NOM), and this type of precursors can be characterised by the following measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV254), specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA), and disinfection by-products formation potential (DBPFP). The effort to remove DBP precursors results in reduction of DBP formation in potable water. However, scientists discovered that chlorination of organic matter in raw water resulted in formation of DBPs. Because of concerns over the health effects of these organic byproducts, several industrial countries have...