Disinfection by-product formation during chlor(am)ination of algal organic matters (AOM) extracted from Microcystis aeruginosa: effect of growth phases, AOM and bromide concentration

Algae organic matter (AOM), including extracellular organic matter (EOM) and intracellular organic matter (IOM), has caused a series of problems to the water quality, among which formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during subsequent chlor(am)ination process was especially serious and concerned. This study characterized physicochemical properties of the EOM and IOM solution extracted from different growth phases of Microcystis aeruginosa and investigated the corresponding formation potential of DBPs during chlor(am)ination process. Besides, the effects of initial concentration of xEOM, IOM, and Br⁻ on the yields of disinfection by-product formation potential were studied. The results indicated that the specific UV absorbance (SUVA₂₅₄) values of IOM and EOM (1.09 and 2.66 L/mg m) were considerably lower than that of natural organic matter (NOM) (4.79 L/mg m). Fluorescence dates showed the soluble microbial by-product was dominant in both EOM and IOM, and the tryptophan was the main component of AOM. From the excitation–emission matrix figure of EOM and IOM, we found that the content of the high molecular weight protein substance in IOM was higher than EOM. During chlorination of EOM and IOM, the yields of four kinds of DBPs followed the order trichloroethene (TCM) > 1,1-DCP > dichloride acetonitrile (DCAN) > trichloronitromethane (TCNM), while the order was TCM > DCAN > TCNM > 1,1-DCP during chloramination process. The bromine substitution factor (BSF) value increased with the increasing of the concentration of Br⁻. When the concentration of Br⁻ was 500 μg/L, the BSF values of chlorination EOM and IOM were 51.1 and 68.4%, respectively. As the concentration of Br⁻ increased, the formation of Cl–DBPs was inhibited and the formation of Br–DBPs was promoted. Graphical abstract ᅟ