Formation of disinfection byproducts as affected by biochar during water treatment. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Min; Wang, Xuan; Hao, Huizhi; Wang, Huihui; Duan, Lin; Li, Yao
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 233(2019)
• Page Start: 190
• Page End: 197
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: DBPs -- Biochar -- Chlorination -- Water chemistry; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.05.260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Biochar (BC) is as an emerging and promising adsorbent for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions in water treatment given its porous structure, large surface area, and numerous O-functional groups. However, the effects of BC on the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during the disinfection process of water treatment remains largely unknown. This study investigated the influence of aqueous solution chemistry on DBP formation in the presence of BC during chlorination. BC samples prepared from different biomass precursors (wheat straw, peanut shells, and shaddock peel) with different pyrolysis temperatures were compared, and the effects of aqueous solution chemistry were systematically investigated. Results indicated that DBPs could be formed during disinfection with BC. Certain intermediate DBP products would undergo base catalysis to form trichloromethane (TCM) via hydrolysis as pH increased. This phenomenon would increase TCM content, as well as decrease chloral hydrate and 1, 1-dichloro-2-propanone content. The increment in inorganic ion (NaCl) content showed negligible effects on DBP formation during BC chlorination. DBP formation was restrained in the presence of humic acid (HA) because the number of active sites on BC that participated in the reaction decreased when BC adsorbed HA. Highlights: Chlorination of biochar can form DBPs during the water treatment. The pyrolysis temperature of biochar highly affects the DBP concentrations. The release of organic precursors from biochar to produce DBPs is affected by pH. Biochar could inhibit the DBPs formation during the chlorination of SRHA.