Novel Method for DBP Precursor Removal

The treatment and disinfection of water for drinking continues to be a major public health issue. It is clear that disinfection methods involving chlorine compounds result in the formation of byproducts that constitute a health risk. The proposed work addresses the removal of the disinfection byproducts (DBPs), especially the haloacetic acids, or their humate and fulvate precursors by using an inexpensive inorganic material as a catalytic or anion exchange material, respectively. The Phase I work demonstrated that one of the ion exchange materials can effect nearly complete removal of the precursor humic substances present in the water. These materials can also catalyze the decomposition of the haloacetic acids at ambient conditions. The goal of the Phase II work is to develop a viable technology for water treatment that either (1) removes the DBP precursor so that low levels of DBPs are obtained with disinfection one or (2) removes the haloacetic acids from the chlorinated water. Sufficient data is needed to reach a go/no go decision that either process is competitive with activated carbon and membrane filtation and proceeding with either process to the pilot stage is a convincing investment.