Biomaterial Database

Further formation of trihalomethanes in drinking water during heating. 2001

X Z Li, and J M Sun

Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong. cexzli@polyu.edu.hk

This study was aimed at investigating the further formation of trihalomethanes (THM) in drinking water when it is being heated at home. Experimental results confirmed that there could be a further significant formation during heating drinking water. Overall variation of THM concentration in water during the heating depended on its formation rate and volatilisation rate. The rate of THM formation was mainly affected by not only both the concentrations of THM precursors, such as humic substances and residual chlorine, but also temperature and reaction time. The rate of THM volatilisation depended on water temperature and the extent of water agitation in the water heaters. It was concluded that the THM residuals in drinking water could be effectively eliminated to a very low level, if the boiling of water was kept in the open for few minutes after water boiling.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D013696	Temperature	The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms.	Temperatures
D014835	Volatilization	A phase transition from liquid state to gas state, which is affected by Raoult's law. It can be accomplished by fractional distillation.	Vaporization,Volatility
D014881	Water Supply	Means or process of supplying water (as for a community) usually including reservoirs, tunnels, and pipelines and often the watershed from which the water is ultimately drawn. (Webster, 3d ed)	Supplies, Water,Supply, Water,Water Supplies
D018508	Water Purification	Any of several processes in which undesirable impurities in water are removed or neutralized; for example, chlorination, filtration, primary treatment, ion exchange, and distillation. It includes treatment of WASTEWATER to provide potable and hygienic water in a controlled or closed environment as well as provision of public drinking water supplies.	Waste Water Purification,Waste Water Treatment,Wastewater Purification,Wastewater Treatment,Water Treatment,Purification, Waste Water,Purification, Wastewater,Purification, Water,Treatment, Waste Water,Treatment, Wastewater,Treatment, Water,Waste Water Purifications,Waste Water Treatments,Water Purification, Waste
D022882	Trihalomethanes	Methanes substituted with three halogen atoms, which may be the same or different.	Trihalomethane