Impact of Chlorinated Water Exposure on Contaminant Transport and Surface and Bulk Properties of High-Density Polyethylene and Cross-Linked Polyethylene Potable Water Pipes
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 7
Abstract
The aim of this work was to determine if the aging of polyethylene (HDPE, PEX-A and PEX-B) water pipes by exposure to chlorinated water altered polar and nonpolar contaminant diffusivity and solubility by analyzing new, laboratory-aged, and exhumed water-distribution system polyethylene (PE) pipes. After 141 days of aging in pH 6.5 water with free chlorine, the surface chemistry and bulk properties of PEX-A pipe were unaffected. Carbonyl bonds () were detected on the surfaces of HDPE and PEX-B pipe, and these oxygenated surfaces became more hydrophilic, resulting in statistically significant increases in diffusion rates. All 10 contaminant and four pipe material combinations had diffusivity increases on average of 50% for polar contaminants and 5% for nonpolar contaminants. Contaminant solubility was slightly increased for aged PEX-A and slightly decreased for PEX-B pipes. Toluene and trichloromethane diffusivity and solubility values for 7- to 25-year-old buried water utility pipes were similar to values for new and laboratory-aged HDPE-based materials. Because chlorinated water exposure alters how polar contaminants interact with aged PE pipes, results of this work should be considered in future health risk assessments, water quality modeling, pipe performance, and service-life considerations.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSFCBET-0755342 and NSFDGE-0333378) and the Water Research Foundation. Opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations in this material are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agencies. The authors thank Dr. Jian Zhang and water utility members Christine Owen, Marvin Kaden, John McKeon, and George Witty for their participation in the project. Undergraduate research assistants Corrie Campbell, Ted Halley, Stephanie Pluta, and Rory Polera are thanked for assistance in carrying out experiments. The authors express gratitude to Sue Mitroka from the Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech for her assistance.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 7 • July 2011
Pages: 559 - 568
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 1, 2010
Accepted: Jan 23, 2011
Published online: Jan 24, 2011
Published in print: Jul 1, 2011
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