Characteristics of DOM and Removal of DBPs Precursors across O3-BAC Integrated Treatment for the Micro-Polluted Raw Water of the Huangpu River

The aim of this study is to determine the impact upon dissolved organic matter (DOM) and removal of disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors of adding an ozone-biological activated carbon (O3-BAC) process after the conventional treatment process (CTP) using water from the Huangpu River in Shanghai, east China. Several metrics, including size fractionation, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP), were employed to accomplish this goal. In the raw water collected from the Huangpu River, the low molecular weight (MW) molecules (MW <3 kDa) were absolutely dominant in DOM, accounting for more than 55% of total DOC, and the DOM resulted in a high THMFP level of 472.91 ± 4.63 μg/L after an excessive chlorination. The CTP reduced high MW molecules (MW >10 kDa) by 61% and the low MW molecules (MW <3 kDa) by only 8%. The O3-BAC presented an accumulated DOC removal efficiency of approximately 50%, in particular, showing a high degree of the removal effectiveness of low MW molecules. Samplings from the CTP, ozone and BAC were subjected to excessive chlorination to determine the THMFP, and the measured concentrations were 211.89 ± 4.58 μg/L, 169.52 ± 4.55 μg/L, and 124.42 ± 4.27 μg/L, respectively. Therefore, coupled with the THMFP removal rate of 74%, the addition of the O3-BAC process after an existing CTP improved the water quality of the effluent, particularly, in terms of the improved reduction in the precursors of DBPs. OPEN ACCESS