Sequential and simultaneous determination of bromate and chlorite (DBPs) by flow techniques: kinetic differentiation

3-3′-Dimethoxybenzidine (o-dianisidine, ODA) is oxidised by Br₂, among other oxidants, generating a compound that absorbs at 450 nm, while the non-oxidised reagent absorbs in the UV region. This reaction has been used previously as the basis of a continuous-flow method for the determination of bromate in ozonised water, with a detection limit lower than the maximum permitted for drinking water (10 μg L⁻¹). The only interference observed in the method was that due to the chlorite ion (ClO₂⁻), which generated the same ODA bromation product. Thus, in systems in which O₃ is employed as a disinfectant and disinfection is later enhanced with ClO⁻ and ClO₂, there exists the possibility of finding BrO₃⁻ and ClO₂⁻, oxoanions generated as subproducts. The kinetic behaviour of the reaction between bromate and chlorite with bromine in acidic medium is different, allowing the proposal of a continuous-flow method for the simultaneous or sequential determination of both subproducts in water purification systems. None of the other subproducts interfered in the reaction. Kinetic differentiation was achieved by combining the temperature of the reaction and the length of the coils, after which it was possible to determine both analytes sequentially within a concentration range of 6–160 μg L⁻¹.