Reaction of chlorine with organic polyelectrolytes in water treatment: A review

Abstract

Research Article| December 01 2005 Reaction of chlorine with organic polyelectrolytes in water treatment: A review Brian Bolto Brian Bolto 1CSIRO Manufacturing & Infrastructure Technology, PO Box 56,Highett, Victoria 3190, Australia Tel: +61 3 9252 6489 Fax: +61 3 9252 6288; E-mail: brian.bolto@csiro.au Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2005) 54 (8): 531–544. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2005.0047 Article history Received: July 13 2004 Accepted: July 29 2005 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation Brian Bolto; Reaction of chlorine with organic polyelectrolytes in water treatment: A review. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 December 2005; 54 (8): 531–544. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2005.0047 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Polyelectrolytes when used as coagulants or coagulant aids in water treatment can react with oxidants used for disinfection, the by-products formed being analogous to those obtained from the reaction of chlorine with natural organic matter. A review of currently available literature shows that, with the concentrations of the commonly used cationic polymers and chlorine normally met in water treatment, the formation of trihalomethanes is minimal, and the polymer is not the principal precursor. When unsatisfactorily high levels of by-products are formed on polymer usage, other chemicals present in the commercial product have usually been identified as the precursors. The most potent of these is residual acrylamide monomer. As long as strict checks are maintained on the amount of this monomer present, trihalomethanes are formed in insignificant amounts. However, the other by-products that can be produced may warrant further exploration, such as the total halogenated organic species obtained from polyamines (192 μg l−1). For poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) the formation is much lower (12 μg l−1). Nitrosodimethylamine has been reported as another serious contaminant, formed to a limited extent from normal operations with cationic polymers, but at levels of concern when other nitrogen compounds are present. More data are needed on cationic polyacrylamides, which appear to have been somewhat neglected, especially the possible contribution from the cationic acrylate monomer when it is present. Anionic and non-ionic polyacrylamides do not form significant levels of trihalomethanes on reaction with chlorine either. These polymers also have contributions equivalent to the amount produced by the residual monomer present. The choice of the most appropriate treatment polymer should hence always be on the basis of the absence of low molecular weight material as well as on process performance. Strict regulatory control on monomer and impurity content hence has to be maintained. cationic polyacrylamide, chlorine, polyamines, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) This content is only available as a PDF. © IWA Publishing 2005 You do not currently have access to this content.