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1999 Progress Report: Evaluation of the Efficacy of a New Secondary Disinfectant Formulation Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Silver and the Formulation of Disinfection By-Products Resulting From Interactions with Conventional Disinfectants
EPA Grant Number: R825362Title: Evaluation of the Efficacy of a New Secondary Disinfectant Formulation Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Silver and the Formulation of Disinfection By-Products Resulting From Interactions with Conventional Disinfectants
Investigators: Batterman, Stuart A. , Fattal, Badri , Lev, Ovadia , Mancy, Khalil H. , Shuval, Hillel , Wang, Shuqin , Warila, James , Zhang, Lianzhong
Institution: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor , Hebrew University
Current Institution: University of Michigan , Hebrew University
EPA Project Officer: Rosenthal, Sheila
Project Period: June 15, 1997 through June 14, 2000 (Extended to June 14, 2001)
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 15, 1998 through June 14, 1999
Project Amount: $594,346
RFA: Drinking Water (1997)
Research Category: Drinking Water
Description:
Objective:The objectives of the research address two critical issues associated with the use of a new secondary disinfectant formulation utilizing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and silver (Ag+): (1) the efficacy of the formulation to provide long-term residual disinfection, including the control of coliform bacteria, bacterial regrowth, and slime/biofilm control; and (2) the identification and quantification of disinfection by-products (DBPs) that may result from interactions with conventional chlorine- and oxidant-based disinfectants. The research encompasses laboratory studies and field demonstrations to evaluate the effectiveness of the alternative disinfectant in a range of source waters and utility system characteristics. The secondary disinfectant is one of the few non-chlorine based disinfectants that can provide long-term residual disinfection in drinking water systems. By combining two or more disinfection agents, it may be possible to lower concentrations of each component, reduce exposures, minimize the formation of toxic and undesirable DBPs, and minimize the health risks associated with disinfection.
The approach consists of three components: (1) laboratory evaluation of microbial disinfection efficacy, including optimal formulation of the secondary disinfectant and optimal doses of primary and secondary disinfectants; (2) laboratory evaluation of DBP formation resulting from interactions with various primary disinfectants; and (3) field demonstration of the disinfectant to provide "real world" results. These components are designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the microbial disinfection efficiency and DBP formation potential of the new disinfectant.
The research is developing information regarding long-term disinfection efficacy in different source waters and environmental and utility conditions. Effects on DBPs of the primary disinfectants and any new by-product formation are quantified, as are optimum dosages and pathogen inactivation. These results will be compared to the disinfection efficacy and DBP formation of conventional disinfectants. The research results will be suitable for use in exposure and risk assessments to support future policies and decisions regarding disinfection approaches.
Progress Summary:The addition of the secondary disinfectant following the use of chlorine as a primary disinfectant produces very dramatic reductions in DBP formation (e.g., trihalomethanes [THMs] and haloacetic acids [HAAs]), an effect due to the reduction of chlorine to chloride by H2O2, which halts further reaction of chlorine with dissolved organic matter and other DBP precursors. When used with ozone, H2O2 also quenches formation of THMs and reduces, though not as strongly, formation of inorganic byproducts (e.g., bromate). These reductions result from several reactions that have been investigated in both empirical and mechanistic studies. The possible formation of aldehydes and other DBPs is being investigated. The reduction in DBPs resulting from the primary and secondary disinfectants applies to a wide range of temperatures, pH, bromide concentrations, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels.
The inactivation performance of the combined disinfectant, its individual components, and a commercially available stabilized formulation of H2O2 and Ag+ have been evaluated for several bacteria and virus. Laboratory studies indicate that the combined disinfectant exhibits a synergistic action on the viability of E. coli, however, no increased virucidal action was observed. The biocidal action of the combination generally increased with higher temperature and pH, and decreased in secondary and tertiary effluents. The H2O2 component induced a wide array of stress responses and bacteria deficient in the ability to activate central cellular stress responses and were hypersensitive to both H2O2 and Ag+. These studies suggest that the combined disinfectant may be appropriate for use as long-term secondary residual disinfectant for relatively high quality water. However, further experiments examining biofilm prevention showed that the bacteria that survived after 48 hours disinfection had high catalase activity, hinting that the combined disinfectant may have limited effectiveness in continuous operation.
Widespread use of the combined disinfectant, if practical, might result in potential for uptake in fish and humans. An ecological model was constructed to simulate partitioning between water and sediment, uptake by algae, invertebrates, and fish (trout and carp), and risks to humans from fish consumption. Monte-Carlo simulations were used to represent the uncertainty and variability of input parameters. The modeling effort used a variety of scenarios, including "worst case" conditions in which receiving waters provided small amounts of dilution and subsistence fishers consumed large amounts of high trophic level feeders. Results suggest that risks are minimal under all likely scenarios.
Future Activities:Year 3 activities will include further laboratory tests on disinfection efficacy of the new formulation, DPB formation potential, and a comparative analysis of candidate disinfectants. Investigations regarding the possibility of aldehyde species resulting from interactions with H2O2 and Ag+ are continuing. The inactivation performance evaluation studies will be continued, and field studies in Tel Aviv are being planned that will utilize a high quality tertiary effluent to simulate surface water.
Journal Articles on this Report: 8 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 19 publications | 9 publications in selected types | All 9 journal articles |
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Armon R, Laot N, Lev O, Shuval H, Fattal B. Controlling biofilm formation by hydrogen peroxide and silver combined disinfectant. Water Science and Technology 2000;42(1-2):187-192. |
R825362 (1999) R825362 (Final) |
not available |
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Batterman S, Zhang LZ, Wang SQ. Quenching of chlorination disinfection by-product formation in drinking water by hydrogen peroxide. Water Research 2000;34(5):1652-1658. |
R825362 (1999) R825362 (Final) |
not available |
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Batterman S, Huang AT, Wang S, Zhang L. Reduction of ingestion exposure to trihalomethanes due to volatilization. Environmental Science and Technology 2000;34:4418-4424. |
R825362 (1999) R825362 (Final) |
not available |
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Glezer V, Harris B, Tal N, Iosefzon B, Lev O. Hydrolysis of haloacetonitriles: linear free energy relationship, kinetics and products. Water Research 1999;33(8):1938-48. |
R825362 (1999) R825362 (Final) |
not available |
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Liberti L, Lopez A, Notamicola M, Bamea N, Pedahzur R, Fattal B. Comparison of advanced disinfecting methods for municipal wastewater reuse in agriculture. Water Science and Technology 2000;42(1-2):215-220. |
R825362 (1999) R825362 (Final) |
not available |
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Pedahzur R, Katzenelson D, Barnea N, Lev O, Shuval HI, Fattal B, Ulitzur S. The efficacy of long-lasting residual drinking water disinfectants based on hydrogen peroxide and silver. Water Science and Technology 2000;42(1-2):293-298. |
R825362 (1999) R825362 (Final) |
not available |
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Warila J, Batterman S, Passino-Reader DR. A probabilistic model for silver bioaccumulation in aquatic systems and assessment of human health risks. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2001;20(2):432-441. |
R825362 (1999) R825362 (Final) |
not available |
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Zhang L, Wang S, Batterman S. Reduction of bromate and bromoform formation by hydrogen peroxide during ozonation of bromide containing waters. Water Research. |
R825362 (1999) |
not available |
drinking water, watersheds, exposure, risk, ecological effects, viruses, bacteria, pathogens, environmental chemistry, engineering. , Water, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Drinking Water, Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, drinking water system, drinking water contaminants, treatment, water quality, exposure and effects, microbiological organisms, bacterial mutagen, secondary disinfection formulation, DBP risk management, alternative disinfection methods, chlorine-based disinfection, monitoring, chemical byproducts, disinfection byproducts (DPBs), emerging pathogens, pathogens, public water systems, microbial risk management, exposure, microbial contamination, water treatment, hydrogen peroxide, community water system, Silver
Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
Final Report