The University of Toledo
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Dissertation Entitled Influence of Biofilm on Disinfection Byproducts Formation and Decay in a Simulated Water Distribution System by Zhikang Wang Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Engineering _________________________________________ Dr. Youngwoo Seo, Committee Chair _________________________________________ Dr. Isabel C. Escobar, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Cyndee L. Gruden, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Leif Hanson, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Dong-Shik Kim, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Patricia R. Komuniecki, Dean College of Graduate Studies The University of Toledo August 2013 Copyright 2013, Zhikang Wang This document is copyrighted material. Under copyright law, no parts of this document may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author. An Abstract of Influence of Biofilm on Disinfection Byproducts Formation and Decay in a Simulated Water Distribution System by Zhikang Wang Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Engineering The University of Toledo August 2013 Since biofilm has been implicated in the deterioration water quality and the increase of public health risks, various efforts have been made to minimize biofilm regrowth in drinking water distribution systems. Although traditional water treatment processes can greatly remove a large fraction of disinfection by-products (DBPs) precursors, a small portion of natural organic matter (NOM) may still enter water distribution systems. Untreated NOM can serve as nutrients for biofilm growth while also consuming maintained disinfection residuals, which can result in microbial contamination in drinking water. To suppress biofilm formation, water utilities maintain disinfectant residuals for the distribution system. However, upon disinfectant addition, toxic DBPs are inevitably produced. Biofilm and its secreted extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produce toxic DBPs, due to the very similar chemical composition compared to traditional investigated DBP precursors. iii This research investigated the role of biofilm on DBP formation and decay in simulated drinking water distribution systems with four objectives. The first objective was to investigate the influence of chemical composition and quantity of bacterial EPS on the biosorption of NOM in drinking water. Results indicated that both protein and polysaccharide based EPS adsorbed existing NOM. Biosorption capacity was mainly determined by divalent ion (Ca2+ and Mg2+) concentrations. Mechanistically, the presence of a diffuse electrical double layer inhibited NOM biosorption by potential energy barriers, however, presence of divalent ions in the aquatic environment enhanced biosorption processes, permitting functional group interactions between EPS and NOM. In addition, hydrophobic interactions, EPS characteristics and quantity can also be used to explain biosorption results. Bridging between hydrophilic carboxyl groups on alginate EPS and NOM appeared to be the dominant form of biosorption, while hydrophobic interactions enhanced biosorption for protein-based EPS. The second and third objectives of this study were to investigate the role of biofilm EPS on the formation of both carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs) and nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs). DBP yield (formation potential) tests of both bacterial culture and extracted EPS indicated that the chemical composition and quality of EPS played a critical role for DBP formation. In general, protein based EPS possessed higher DBP yields compared to polysaccharide based EPS, especially for N-DBPs. To further determine the relative contribution of each biomolecule in EPS to DBP formation and speciation, detailed chemical compositions of biomolecules in EPS (amino acids, polysaccharide monomers, and fatty acids) from both pure culture and mixed species biofilm isolated from a water utility were analyzed. DBP yield results from both extracted iv EPS and EPS surrogates (amino acids and polysaccharide monomers) indicated that proteins in EPS have a greater impact on DBP formation, where amino acids containing unsaturated organic carbon or conjugated bonds in R-group produced higher amount of DBPs. However, DBP yields of polysaccharide monomers were lower than those of tested amino acids groups and the DBP yields were not significantly influenced by their chemical structures. The last objective of this study was to understand the influence of biofilm on DBP formation and decay in a simulated water distribution system using lab scale annular -1 reactors. For Cl2 disinfection at 0.5 mg L Cl2 residual concentration, no obvious DBP formation was observed. This was mainly due to the combination of low DBP formation, DBP volatilization, and biodegradation. However, when high Cl2 residuals were maintained, the formations of both C-DBPs and N-DBPs increased dramatically beyond the DBP formation potential of the feed solution. This suggests higher Cl2 residual not only reacted with humic acid (HA) in feed solution but also reacted with biofilm and produced extra DBPs, especially the high formation of N-DBPs (haloacetonitriles). For NH2Cl disinfection, the DBP levels were much lower than those of Cl2 disinfection and differences in DBP formation were not significant under different NH2Cl residual concentrations. Combined results suggested that biofilm can impact both C-DBP and N-DBP formation and decay in water distribution systems, where biomolecules in EPS affect DBP speciation. v This work is dedicated to all of my family members. I appreciate that they have trusted, supported and encouraged me all this time. I am grateful for many comforts in their life they sacrificed for me. With eternal love and respect to them, the life principles they believe in have been an endless source of inspiration for me. Acknowledgements I would like to express sincere acknowledgements to following individuals for their valuable contributions in the completion of my dissertation: I really appreciate my Ph.D advisor, Dr. Youngwoo Seo, for his great patience, guidance, and encouragement which turned out to this value-added scientific research. I am also grateful to all of my committee members – Dr. Escobar, Dr. Gruden, Dr. Hanson, and Dr. Kim. They gave me so many helpful suggestions and feedback in order to finish my research dissertation. Dr. Junsung Kim, who gave me instructions and guidance on disinfection by products (DBP) analysis, which allowed me quickly become acquainted with DBP measurement. Because of your patient gudiances, I could move in the right direction. Special thanks to Ms. Jinny Johnson, Dr. Onekyun Choi, Heng Shao, Christopher M. Hessler, and Kimberly M. Coburn. I really appreciate your generous help and suggestions during my Ph.D research. I also thank my lab colleagues Mau-yi Wu, Zongsu Wei, Xue Ding, Varun Raj Sendamangalam, Qiuhong Jia, Emma Boff, Erin Nichols, Zheng Xue, Steven D. Cummins, Katie A. Burns, and Yahya Mohd Khan. I really enjoy the time I spent with you. Many thanks to the Chemical and Environmental Engineering faculty for their valuable help and suggestions throughout my Ph.D study. vii Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... vii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ............................................................................................................... xviii List of Figures ....................................................................................................................xx List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... xxvi List of Symbols ................................................................................................................xxx 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 31 1.1 Disinfection By-products ...................................................................................... 31 1.2 Natural Organic Matter ......................................................................................... 33 1.3 Biofilm in Water Distribution Systems................................................................... 35 1.4 DBP Formation and Decay in the Water Distribution System ............................... 37 2 Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 41 2.1 Removal of Various DBP Precursors in Drinking Water ....................................... 41 2.1.1 NOM Removal ................................................................................................. 41 viii 2.1.2 Algal Organic Matter (AOM) Removal ........................................................... 43 2.2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Techniques ............................................................ 44 2.2.1 Chlorine............................................................................................................ 44