Molecular characterization of disinfection byproduct precursors in filter backwash water from 10 drinking water treatment plants

Organic matter reacts with chlorine forming disinfection byproducts (DBPs) including trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetamides (HAMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and haloacetonitriles (HANs). Filter backwash water (FBW) is either released back to the environment or recycled to the head of the treatment plant after solids settling and the remaining dissolved organic matter is a significant pool of DBP precursors that are not well understood. We characterized dissolved organic matter in FBW from 10 treatment plants and low molecular weight (MW < 1 kDa) organic matter contributed the most to DBP formation. We demonstrated overall similarity of the molecular composition (e.g., elemental ratios, m/z, DBE) of the 10 samples of FBW by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Aromatic and more highly oxidized compounds preferentially reacted with chlorine, forming DBPs. Low MW (<450 Da) aliphatic compounds, and highly unsaturated and phenolic compounds were the primary precursors of THMs, HANs, and HAMs, and the formation potentials (FPs) of these groups of DBPs were correlated with multiple individual molecular formulae. HAA FPs were correlated with low MW, highly unsaturated and phenolic compounds. These advances in the understanding of the molecular composition of DBP precursors in FBW may develop the effective strategies to control DBP formation and limit impacts on the quality of finished water, and can be expanded to understanding DBP precursors in drinking water sources.