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Title: Trihalomethanes in Comerio Drinking Water and Their Reduction by Nanostructured Materials

Abstract

The formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination of drinking water is an issue which has drawn significant scientific attention due to the possible adverse effects that these compounds have on human health and the formation of another DBPs. Some factors that affect the formation of DBPs include: chlorine dose and residue, contact time, temperature, pH and natural organic matter (NOM). The most frequently detected DBPs in drinking water are trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). The MCLs are standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for drinking water quality established in Stage 1, Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), and they limit the amount of potentially hazardous substances that are allowed in drinking water. The water quality data for THMs were evaluated in the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA). During this evaluation, the THMs exceeded the maximum contamination limit (MCLs) for the Comerio Water Treatment Plant (CWTP). USEPA classified the THMs as Group B2 carcinogens (shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals). This research evaluated the THMs concentrations in the following sampling sites: CWTP, Río Hondo and Piñas Abajo schools, Comerio Health Center (CDT), and the Vázquez Ortiz family, in the municipality of Comeriomore » Puerto Rcio. The results show that the factors affecting the formation of THMs occur in different concentrations across the distribution line. Furthermore, there are not specific ranges to determine the formation of THMs in drinking water when the chemical and physical parameters were evaluated. Three different nanostructured materials (graphene, mordenite (MOR) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) were used in this research, to reduce the THMs formation by adsorption in specific contact times. The results showed that graphene is the best nanomaterial to reduce THMs in drinking water. Graphene can reduce 80 parts per billion (ppb) of THMs in about 2 hours. In addition mordenite can reduce approximately 80 ppb of THMs and MWCNTs adsorbs 71 ppb of THMs in the same period of time respectively. Finally, in order to complement the adsorption results previously obtained, total organic carbon (TOC) analyses were measured, after different contact times with the nanomaterials.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Turabo, Guarabo (Puerto Rico). School of Science and Technology
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo (Puerto Rico)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1335912
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0000672
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Soft Nanoscience Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 04; Journal Issue: 02; Journal ID: ISSN 2160-0600
Publisher:
Scientific Research Publishing
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY

Citation Formats

Bourdon, Jorge Hernandez, and Linares, Francisco Marquez. Trihalomethanes in Comerio Drinking Water and Their Reduction by Nanostructured Materials. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.4236/snl.2014.42005.
Bourdon, Jorge Hernandez, & Linares, Francisco Marquez. Trihalomethanes in Comerio Drinking Water and Their Reduction by Nanostructured Materials. United States. https://doi.org/10.4236/snl.2014.42005
Bourdon, Jorge Hernandez, and Linares, Francisco Marquez. 2014. "Trihalomethanes in Comerio Drinking Water and Their Reduction by Nanostructured Materials". United States. https://doi.org/10.4236/snl.2014.42005. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1335912.
@article{osti_1335912,
title = {Trihalomethanes in Comerio Drinking Water and Their Reduction by Nanostructured Materials},
author = {Bourdon, Jorge Hernandez and Linares, Francisco Marquez},
abstractNote = {The formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination of drinking water is an issue which has drawn significant scientific attention due to the possible adverse effects that these compounds have on human health and the formation of another DBPs. Some factors that affect the formation of DBPs include: chlorine dose and residue, contact time, temperature, pH and natural organic matter (NOM). The most frequently detected DBPs in drinking water are trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). The MCLs are standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for drinking water quality established in Stage 1, Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), and they limit the amount of potentially hazardous substances that are allowed in drinking water. The water quality data for THMs were evaluated in the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA). During this evaluation, the THMs exceeded the maximum contamination limit (MCLs) for the Comerio Water Treatment Plant (CWTP). USEPA classified the THMs as Group B2 carcinogens (shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals). This research evaluated the THMs concentrations in the following sampling sites: CWTP, Río Hondo and Piñas Abajo schools, Comerio Health Center (CDT), and the Vázquez Ortiz family, in the municipality of Comerio Puerto Rcio. The results show that the factors affecting the formation of THMs occur in different concentrations across the distribution line. Furthermore, there are not specific ranges to determine the formation of THMs in drinking water when the chemical and physical parameters were evaluated. Three different nanostructured materials (graphene, mordenite (MOR) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) were used in this research, to reduce the THMs formation by adsorption in specific contact times. The results showed that graphene is the best nanomaterial to reduce THMs in drinking water. Graphene can reduce 80 parts per billion (ppb) of THMs in about 2 hours. In addition mordenite can reduce approximately 80 ppb of THMs and MWCNTs adsorbs 71 ppb of THMs in the same period of time respectively. Finally, in order to complement the adsorption results previously obtained, total organic carbon (TOC) analyses were measured, after different contact times with the nanomaterials.},
doi = {10.4236/snl.2014.42005},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1335912}, journal = {Soft Nanoscience Letters},
issn = {2160-0600},
number = 02,
volume = 04,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}