G-Journal of Environmental Science and Technology (Apr 2015)
Quantification and comparison of Halo-acetic acids formation potential in Ganga River Water Samples with diluted waste water samples using Gas Chromatography
Abstract
Treated drinking water supply systems in the world rely on natural water bodies like rivers and ground water which are continuous sources for raw water. The natural water from these sourcescontains a complex mixture of natural organic matter (NOM), pathogens, different types of ions etc., which when react with chlorine while treatment for potable drinking water has the potential to generate carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as Halo-acetic acids (HAAs). The main objective of this study is to investigate the formation of the nine major Halo-acetic acids (HAAs) viz. monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA), trichloroacetic acid (TCAA), monobromoaceticacid (MBAA), dibromoacetic acid (DBAA), tribromoacetic acid (TBAA), chlorobromo acetic acid (CBAA), dichlorobromoacetic acid (DCBAA), dibromochloroacetic acid (DBCAA),in Ganga river water. In this present study; formation potentials of nine HAAs in Ganga water was investigated and compared the same with diluted waste water samples.Liquid-liquid extraction method, followed by qualitative and quantitative estimation by gas chromatograph (BUCK GC 990) equipped with electron capture detector was used for the experiment. From the results obtained and the results observed in the literature it could be concluded that the organic matter present in the Ganga River water is mostly of anthropogenic i.e., effluent origin organic matter (EffOM);which directly indicating the possibilities for presence of large quantities of carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs) in supplies from drinking water treatment plant at Kanpur, UP, India and also traditional water treatment techniques like alum coagulation and chlorination is no more a viable solution for safe health.
