The Influence of the Presence of Iron in Highly Alkaline Polyaluminium Chlorides on the Effectiveness of Precursors of Disinfection By-Products Removal

The mechanism of coagulation with highly alkaline polyaluminum chlorides is well understood, but there is a lack of information on the effect of the presence of iron in these coagulants on the efficiency of purifying water with increased contents of natural organic matters among which humic substances are precursors of disinfection by-products. The dissolved forms of organic substances are the most problematic with regard to water treatment because major concern is the formation of disinfection by products resulting from reactions between dissolved organic matter fractions and disinfectants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of precursors of disinfection by-products removal using highly alkaline polyaluminium chlorides that had different alkalinity and iron content. In the water after the coagulation process a value of SUVA254 was calculated because this indicator correlates well with dissolved organic matter reactivity and disinfection by-products. The analysis of the obtained results showed that the effectiveness of dissolved organic matter removal was determined by the formation of colored iron-organic complexes.