Purification and removal of the low molecular weight fraction of polyDADMAC reduces: N -nitrosodimethylamine formation during water treatment

Ariel J. Atkinson, Natalia Fischer, Samantha Donovan, Justin Bartlett, Omar Alrehaili, Shahnawaz Sinha, Sunil Kommineni, Pierre Herckes, Paul Westerhoff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cationic polymers are critical coagulant aids at drinking water plants, but the same polymers are simultaneously N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursors upon chloramine exposure. We hypothesized the low-molecular fraction, which represents a small mass residual in polyDADMAC cationic polymer, reacts with chloramines, may not be well removed during coagulation, and is thus responsible for forming parts-per-trillion (ppt) concentrations of NDMA in finished water. To identify strategies capable of reducing post-coagulation residual polymer associated with NDMA formation, this study fractionated polyDADMAC by molecular weight, characterized reactivity of each fraction, and quantified precursor contributions to NDMA formation potential during bench-scale test and NDMA concentration due to formation during treatment during pilot tests. Diaultrafiltration of the cationic polymer produced a low molecular weight fraction (<10 kDa) and a purified polyDADMAC (>10 kDa). Native organic matter in bench- and pilot- tests contributed 19-38% of NDMA formed throughout treatment, while polymers were responsible for 62-81% of NDMA formed. The <10 kDa fraction of polyDADMAC was more reactive (450-540 ng NDMA per mg DOC) and formed >10× NDMA than non-purified polyDADMAC in jar tests. Purified polyDADMAC, with <10 kDa fraction removed, formed 54% less NDMA during pilot tests (and 63% less during jar tests) than non-purified polyDADMAC. There was no adverse effect on coagulation or subsequent filter performance by using purified polyDADMAC, but significantly (p < 0.05) less NDMA formed in filtered water when using diaultrafiltered cationic polymer. Thus, removing the low molecular weight impurities (<10 kDa) by polymer suppliers would lead to an equally-effective coagulant-aid that substantially lowers NDMA formation during drinking water treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2492-2498
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Science: Water Research and Technology
Volume6
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Science and Technology

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