Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2014MD318B

Kinetics of the Iodination of Natural Organic Matter and Iodinated Disinfection Byproduct Formation in Drinking Water Treatment (Graduate Fellowship)

Institute: Maryland
Year Established: 2014 Start Date: 2014-03-01 End Date: 2014-09-30
Total Federal Funds: $6,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $12,000

Principal Investigators: Kaye Brubaker

Project Summary: Iodinated disinfection byproducts (I-DBPs) are toxic drinking water contaminants formed when iodide-containing water undergoes conventional disinfection. Iodination of natural organic matter (NOM) initiates I-DBP formation and controls I-DBP formation potential. The proposed research will quantify NOM iodination reaction rates under simulated water treatment conditions using absorbable organic halogen (AOX) analysis. Solution conditions, including pH, [iodide], [chloride], and disinfectant dose, will be varied systematically in time-course experiments to reveal the factors controlling I-DBP formation. NOM iodination rate constants will allow computational modeling of specific conditions and integration with existing DBP research to help water treatment operators reduce public exposure to I-DBPs.