ABSTRACT
The use of the high-energy electron beam process has been shown to be an effective way to control chloroform in drinking water treatment. The major factors that affected the removal efficiency were solute concentration and carbonate ion alkalinity. Solute concentration was studied at concentrations that far exceed those expected in treated drinking water; however, the results at high concentration show that this process may be applicable for other purposes such as hazardous waste site remediation. Based on the bimolecular rate constants of CHCl 3 and the three reactive species formed in irradiated water, it was shown that the e– aq was the reactive intermediate responsible for the destruction of the CHCl3 in aqueous solutions. At high carbonate ion concentrations, where the OH· reacts rapidly with the CO2– 3, the effective “steady-state” concentration of the e– aq, was increased and more efficient removal of the CHCl3 was observed. The addition of 3% by weight of kaolin clay did not affect the removal efficiency of the CHCl3 in any of the experiments. It is suggested that this process may be applicable to many organic reaction by-products in drinking water treatment.
