TECHNICAL PAPERS
Dec 1, 1985

Removal of Organic Matter in Water Treatment

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 111, Issue 6

Abstract

The performance of several types of water treatment plants in removing various molecular weight (MW) fractions of naturally occurring aquatic organic matter and humic substances is described. An assessment was made of the performance of direct filtration, conventional treatment, and softening in removing trihalomethane (THM) precursors from a diverse array of water sources. In addition, a comparison was made between conventional treatment and direct filtration in removing THM precursors from a common water source, the Colorado River. As a general rule, THM reactivity (μg THM/mg C) increased with MW although the <10,000MW range was found to be the most consistently reactive fraction of aquatic organic matter. All of the various treatments preferentially removed the most reactive fraction of precursor present in each molecular weight range. None of the various treatments proved to be very effective in removing precursor material below a MW of <500. The ability to remove THM precursors appears to be related to both the source of humic substances as well as the type of treatment employed.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Amy, G., Collins, M. R., Albawardi, K., King, P. H., and Sierka, R. A., “Direct Filtration Removal of THM Precursors from CAP Water,” Proceedings, ASCE National Conference on Environmental Engineering, 1984, p. 414.
2.
Amy, G., Collins, M. R., Kuo, C. J., and King, P. H., “A Comparison of Gel Permeation Chromatography and Ultrafiltration for Molecular Weight Characterization of Aquatic Organic Matter and Humic Substances,” presented at the 1985 National AWWA Conference and to be published in Conference Proceedings.
3.
Edwards, G., and Amirtharajah, A., “Removing Color Caused by Humic Acids,” Journal of the American Water Works Association, Vol. 77, 1985, p. 50.
4.
Edzwald, J., Becker, W. C., and Tambini, S. J., “Aspects of Direct Filtration in Treatment of Low Turbidity Humic Waters,” presented at the Symposium on Water Filtration, Antwerp, Belgium, Apr., 1982.
5.
Edzwald, J., Gong, B., and McGowan, C., “Trihalomethane Formation and Precursor Removal at Two Conventional Water Plants,” Proceedings, ASCE National Conference on Environmental Engineering, 1981, p. 620.
6.
Edzwald, J., “A Preliminary Feasibility Study of the Removal of Trihalomethane Precursors by Direct Filtration,” USEPA‐DWRD, Cincinnati, OH, Feb., 1979.
7.
Joyce, W., DiGiano, F. A., and Uden, P. C., “THM Precursors in the Environment,” Journal of the American Water Works Association, Vol. 76, 1984, p. 102.
8.
Larson, R., “Dissolved Organic Matter of a Low‐Colored Stream,” Fresh‐water Biology, Vol. 8, 1978, p. 91.
9.
Luong, T., Peters, C. J., and Perry, R., “Influence of Bromide and Ammonia upon the Formation of Trihalomethanes under Drinking Water Conditions,” Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 16, 1982, p. 473.
10.
McCreary, J., and Snoeyink, V., “Characterization and Activated Carbon Adsorption of Several Humic Substances,” Water Research, Vol. 14, 1980, p. 151.
11.
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, “Water Treatment Process Modifications for Trihalomethane Control and Organic Substances in the Ohio River,” EPA:600/2‐80‐028, USEPA, Cincinnati, OH, Mar., 1980.
12.
Oliver, B., and Visser, S., “Chloroform Production from the Chlorination of Aquatic Humic Material: The Effect of Molecular Weight, Environment, and Season,” Water Research, Vol. 14, 1980, p. 1137.
13.
Randtke, S., Thiel, C. E., Liao, M. Y., and Yamaya, C. N., “Removing Soluble Organic Contaminants by Lime Softening,” Journal of the American Water Works Association, Vol. 74, 1982, p. 192.
14.
Rest, C., Hoehn, R., Rnocke, W., and Novak, J., “The Removal of Specific Molecular Weight Fractions of Trihalomethane Precursors by Alum Coagulation,” Proceedings, National AWWA Conference, 1983.
15.
Schnoor, J., Nitzschke, J. L., Lucas, R. O., and Veenstra, J. N., “Trihalomethane Yields as a Function of Precursor Molecular Weight,” Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 13, 1979, p. 1134.
16.
Singley, J., Beaudet, B. A., Brodeur, T. P., Thurrot, J. C., Fisher, M. E., and Duncan, T. W., “Minimizing Trihalomethane Formation in a Softening Plant,” Final Report, USEPA Contract No. CA6992448‐A, USEPA‐DWRD, Cincinnati, OH, 1976.
17.
Thurman, E., Wershaw, R. L., Malcolm, R. L., and Pinckney, D. J., “Molecular Weight of Aquatic Humic Substances,” Organic Geochemistry, Vol. 4, 1982, p. 27.
18.
Veenstra, J., and Schnoor, J., “Seasonal Variations in Trihalomethane Levels in Iowa River Water Supply,” Journal of the American Water Works Association, Vol. 72, 1980, p. 583.
19.
Vik, E., Carlson, D. A., Eikum, A. S., and Gjessing, E. T., “Removing Aquatic Humus from Norwegian Lakes,” Journal of the American Water Works Association, Vol. 77, 1985, p. 58.
20.
Westerhoff, G. P., Hess, A. F., and Barnes, M. J., “Plant‐Scale Comparison of Direct Filtration Versus Conventional Treatment of a Lake Erie Water,” Journal of the American Water Works Association, Vol. 72, 1980, p. 148.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 111Issue 6December 1985
Pages: 850 - 864

History

Published online: Dec 1, 1985
Published in print: Dec 1985

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Michael R. Collins
Asst. Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824; formerly Grad. Research Assoc., Environmental Engrg. Program, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
Gary L. Amy, Members, ASCE
Assoc. Prof., Environmental Engrg. Program, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
Paul H. King, F. ASCE
Prof. and Head, Environmental Engrg. Program, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share