Proportion of bromo-DBPs in total DBPs during reclaimed-water chlorination and its related influencing factors

During the chlorine disinfection of reclaimed-water, the proportion of bromo-disinfection by-products (bromo-DBPs) in total DBPs is affected by chlorine dosage, reaction time, pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) and preozonation. Results show that bromo-trihalomethanes (bromo-THMs) form more easily than bromo-haloacetic acids (bromo-HAAs) and bromine incorporation in DBPs decreases with the increase of chlorine dosage. Within 5 h, bromine incorporation in THMs (n(Br)) increases but bromine incorporation in HAAs (n′(Br)) decreases with the extension of reaction time; however, n(Br) decreases and n′(Br) keeps relatively constant at a longer reaction time. Furthermore, bromine incorporation in DBPs is low under acidic and alkaline conditions. The increase of NH₃-N concentration inhibits the formation of chloro-DBPs, resulting in the increase of n(Br) and n′(Br) to some extent. Preozonation enhances the formation of HOBr and the increase of bromine incorporation in DBPs; however, ozone of a high concentration oxidizes HOBr to its salt form, leading to the decrease of bromine incorporation in DBPs. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50538090) and Funds for Creative Research Groups of China (Grant No. 50621804)