Comparison of three solid phase extraction sorbents for the isolation of THM precursors from manitoban surface waters.

Three prepackaged solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges: two modified styrene divinylbenzene, Bond Elut ENV and Bond Elut PPL (Varian), and one N-vinylpyrrolidone (Strata-X, Phenomenex), were assessed for isolation of THM precursors from three surface waters in Manitoba, Canada. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the La Salle River (LR), Lake Winnipegosis (LW) and the Waterhen River (WR) were fractionated into hydrophobic (HPO) and hydrophilic (HPI) parts. ENV isolated less DOM (LR = 46.6 ± 1.5%; LW = 36.2 ± 1.4%; WR = 28.6 ± 2.2%) compared to PPL (LR = 50.2 ± 4.4%; LW = 47.9 ± 2.2%; WR = 37.3 ± 2.8%) and Strata (LR = 46.4% ± 1.0; LW = 51.6 ± 0.3%; WR = 31.9 ± 3.9%). The HPO fraction isolated by each SPE was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrochemical imaging. The FTIR spectra confirmed the HPO fractions were typical of humic-material and largely resembled fulvic acids; however, the PPL and Strata HPO isolates contained slightly more polysaccharides. The THM formation potential (THMFP) confirmed that the HPO fraction formed more THMs than the HPI. The HPO fraction isolated using ENV was found to have the lowest THMFP of all three SPEs in each waterbody; however, the specific THMFP (µgTHM/mgDOM) results indicated that ENV isolated THM precursors more effectively, as the Strata and PPL isolated a greater amount of non-THM forming material. All three SPE showed significant potential for implementation at water treatment plants as a simple tool to monitor THM precursors in source waters, enabling operators to adapt processes to improve drinking water quality.

Floc size distributions in dissolved air flotation of Winnipeg tap water.

A bench-scale continuous flow dissolved air flotation (DAF) system was operated using Winnipeg tap water. Three different dosages of alum were applied: 41.7 mg l(-1), 25.5 mg l(-1) and 15.5 mg l(-1). Floc size distributions formed at different coagulant dosages were analyzed to identify characteristics of floc size distribution optimal for flotation. Alum dose of 25.5 mg l(-1) was found to be optimal for the bench scale DAF unit in this study. At this dosage, the DAF effluent achieved a turbidity of 0.25 NTU and color of 3.8 TCU, significantly lower than that for the tap water. The optimum floc size distribution at the dose of 25 mg l(-1) had the logarithmic mean size of 27 microm which was close to the size of air bubbles produced by the saturator in this study (30 microm). The results of this study suggest that the DAF treatment process is optimized when the logarithmic mean floc size and bubble size are equal.