Removal Characteristics of N-Nitrosamines and Their Precursors by Pilot-Scale Integrated Membrane Systems for Water Reuse

Removal of N-Nitrosodiphenylamine from contaminated water: A novel modeling framework using metaheuristic-based ensemble models

Investigating the complex interactions among physicochemical variables that influence the adsorptive removal of pollutants is a challenge for conventional one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) batch methods. The adoption of machine learning-based chemometric prediction models is expected to be more accurate than the conventional method. This study proposed a novel modeling framework for predicting and optimizing the adsorptive removal of N-Nitrosodiphenylamine (NDPhA). Initially, models were trained by using OVAT data, with their hyperparameters subsequently fine-tuned through Bayesian optimization. In the second phase, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique was adopted to identify optimal parameters, specifically time, concentration, temperature, pH, and dose, to ensure the highest removal. The adopted analytical method enhances both prediction accuracy and removal efficiency. Utilizing OVAT data for NDPhA removal, the XGBoost regressor significantly outperformed other models. With a correlation coefficient of 0.9667 in the testing dataset, the XGBoost model exhibited its accuracy, emphasized by its low mean squared errors of 28.45 and mean absolute errors of 0.0982. Feature importance analysis consistently identified time and concentration as the most critical factors across all models.

Effect of activated sludge treatment on the formation of Nnitrosamines under different chloramination conditions

Municipal wastewater discharge is considered as one of the main sources of N-nitrosamine precursors which can impact the qualities of downstream source waters and reclaimed wastewaters for potable reuse. NNitrosamine precursors can be removed to various degrees during biological wastewater treatment (e.g., the activated sludge (AS) process). So far, little is known about the impact of the AS process on N-nitrosamine formation under practical disinfection condition (e.g., uniform formation condition (UFC)). In this study, N-nitrosamine UFC from selected model compounds, sewage components (i.e., blackwaters and greywaters) and sewage samples were comprehensively investigated during batch AS treatment tests. NNitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation from the tested precursor compounds (i.e., trimethylamine (TMA) and sumatriptan (SMTR)) under UFC chloramination decreased mostly after 6 or 24 hr treatment with different types of AS (i.e., domestic rural AS, domestic urban AS, and textile AS), and the reductions in NDMA UFC were comparable to their NDMA formation potential (FP) reductions. In urine and feces blackwaters, NDMA UFC increased after 6 or 24 hr treatment with the domestic (i.e., rural and urban) AS, while NDMA FP decreased substantially. The increases in NDMA UFC after AS treatment was presumably attributed to the removal of bulk organic matters (e.g., dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) which favored NDMA formation under UFC. On the other hand, in laundry greywaters having relatively abundant DOC, N-nitrosamine UFC was less affected by DOC removal before or after AS treatment, but decreased to similar degrees with N-nitrosamine FP. In sewage samples collected from wastewater treatment plants, N-nitrosamines UFC tended to increase or remain constant during AS treatment, despite the decreases in their FPs. These results suggest that biological wastewater treatment (e.g., the AS process) may not effectively reduce N-nitrosamine formation (e.g., measured under UFC) partially because the concurrent removal of bulk organic matters (e.g., DOC) favored N-nitrosamine formation in s econdary effluents.

The competitive effect of different chlorination disinfection methods and additional inorganic nitrogen on nitrosamine formation from aromatic and heterocyclic amine-containing pharmaceuticals

Amine-containing pharmaceuticals formed nitrosamines that are nitrogenous disinfection byproducts of public concerns due to their carcinogenicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the co-effect of additional inorganic nitrogen in different forms (ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate) and different disinfection approaches (chlorination, monochloramination, dichloramination, and two-step chlorination) on eight nitrosamine formation from four widely used pharmaceuticals. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was the main species formed. The presence of N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA), nitrosomorpholine (NMor), and N-nitrosopiperidine (NPip) was found in certain experiments. For one-step chlorination, the influential factors, in decreasing order of importance, were the molecular structural characteristics of the pharmaceutical, oxidation method, and presence and form of additional nitrogen. In four pharmaceuticals with comparative structures, the availability of amine intermediates during degradation was the key to higher nitrosamine yields. Monochloramine significantly enhanced nitrosamine formation from four pharmaceuticals. NDMA formation by adding hypochlorous acid and ammonium separately were lower than those during monochloramination. During two-step chlorination, NDMA formation was enhanced at certain pre-chlorine doses (e.g., a Cl/N molar ratio of 20 or 4). The pre-chlorine dose changed the Cl/N ratio. As the ratio was increased, the combined chlorine residual was formed and decreased. When the ratio was high, breakpoint chlorination possibly occurred enhancing NDMA formation. While NDMA formation was successfully inhibited by two-step chlorination, ammonium brought the NDMA yields of these pharmaceuticals back to the range observed in chloramination, suggesting the importance of ammonium control for limiting NDMA formation from pharmaceuticals during two-step chlorination.

Factors affecting removal of NDMA in an ozone-biofiltration process for water reuse

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a carcinogen and a disinfection byproduct that is formed by ozone and combined chlorine. Various factors affecting NDMA formation and removal were examined at pilot-scale for a treatment train consisting of ozone, biologically-active carbon (BAC) filtration, and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption applied to two distinct feed waters. High concentrations of ozone and monochloramine were added to the influent, demonstrating that ozone removed monochloramine precursors of NDMA. Further, longer empty bed contact times (EBCTs) of 10 min for BAC and 10 and 20 min for GAC removed NDMA to <10 ng/L for both feed waters. NDMA removal by the BAC process was most favorable >22 °C, presumably due to elevated microbial activity. A monochloramine residual of 3 mg/L-Cl₂ in the BAC influent reduced NDMA removal in the 5 min EBCT BAC from 79% to 36% and in the 10 min EBCT BAC from 88.5% to 73.7%. The absence of ozone in the treatment process significantly reduced NDMA formed post ozone, but decreased NDMA removal in BAC, probably due to lower NDMA concentration in the BAC influent. Finally, adding 5 mg/L of allylthiourea, an inhibitor of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, indicated that removal mechanisms for ammonia and NDMA are distinct. However, nitrification is still a good indicator for NDMA biodegradation potential, because nitrifying bacteria appear to flourish under similar EBCT, temperature. and monochloramine residual conditions during BAC filtration.

Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants by Parallel Operation of Reverse Osmosis and Granular Activated Carbon for Drinking Water Treatment

In response to increasingly stringent restrictions for drinking water quality, a parallel operation of two common technologies, low-pressure reverse osmosis (LPRO) and activated carbon filtration (ACF), was investigated in a comprehensive five-month pilot study for the removal of 32 typical trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) from Rhine bank filtrates employing a semi- technical plant. TrOCs have been divided into three groups: polyfluorinated aliphatic compounds; pharmaceuticals, pesticides and metabolites; in addition to volatiles, nitrosamines and aminopolycarboxylic acids, which were also examined. The net pressure behavior, normalized salt passage and rejection of TrOCs by LPRO were investigated and compared with ACF operation. In addition, autopsies from the leading and last membrane modules were performed using adenosine triphosphate (ATP), total organic carbon (TOC), ICP-OES and SEM-EDX techniques. Generally, rather stable LPRO membrane performance with limited membrane fouling was observed. TrOCs with a molecular weight of ≥ 150 Da were completely retained by LPRO, while the rejection of di- and trichloro compounds improved as the filtration progressed. ACF also showed significant removal for most of the TrOCs, but without desalination. Accordingly, the ACF and LPRO can be operated in parallel such that the LPRO permeate and the ACF-treated bypass can be mixed to produce drinking water with adjustable hardness and significantly reduced TrOCs.

Impact of backwash on biofiltration-related nitrogenous disinfection by-product formation

Previous studies have reported that biofilm extracted from full-scale biofilters can serve as nitrogenous disinfection by-product (N-DBP) precursors. Detached biofilm materials could escape during filter ripening and form N-DBP upon chloramination. This study examined the potential breakthrough of biofilm and N-DBP precursors during filter ripening at two water treatment plants (WTPs). The presence of biofilm material in aqueous samples was estimated by total adenosine triphosphate (tATP) levels; N-DBP formation potential (FP) tests were conducted under uniform formation conditions to quantify N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and haloacetonitrile (HAN₄) precursors. While tATP peaks in filter effluent were observed post backwash at both WTPs, temporary increases of effluent NDMA FP were only observed during filter ripening where particle-associated NDMA precursors served as the dominant contributor. Overall, biofilters examined in this study demonstrated a consistent removal of NDMA FP regardless of the filter ripening process.

Diurnal patterns of N-nitrosodimethylamine and formaldehyde behaviors in different seasons in surface water influenced by effluent from sewage treatment plants

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and formaldehyde (FAH) are probable carcinogenic disinfection by-products and have been found to occur in areas of the Yodo River basin that are influenced by treated wastewater. The diurnal patterns of them were examined with water samples collected over 4 years in different seasons at five outlets of four sewage treatment plants (STPs), seven main stream sites, and five tributary sites in the basin. Based on mass flux calculations, STPs were shown to be the main sources of the downstream for NDMA and FAH loads in the study area. Moreover, results revealed that photo degradable NDMA and non-photo degradable FAH showed different fates during the river transportation. For NDMA, in addition to direct photolysis, water temperature was identified as an important factor in NDMA attenuation in surface waters. NDMA attenuated significantly in the daytime and even during summer nights but persisted during winter nights, while attenuation of FAH was found to mainly be influenced by water temperature, and persisted during winter. Their behaviors were compared in an artificial river channel and whole study area, clearly demonstrating the importance of monitoring them in the water environment during periods of low UV intensity and water temperature, especially winter nights.

N-nitrosomorpholine behavior in sewage treatment plants and urban rivers

The seasonal and diurnal patterns of N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) and its formation potential (NMOR FP) were examined with water samples taken from five outlets of four sewage treatment plants (STPs), seven main stream sites, and five tributary sites in the Yodo River basin. STPs were shown to be the main sources of downstream NMOR load. The highest NMOR levels were found in the discharge from one STP (26.4-171 ng/L). Continuous sequential samplings over a period of 24 h at this STP revealed that NMOR flux at the influent point fluctuated in both summer (0.4-3.2 g/h) and winter (0.3-5.4 g/h), while it was steady in the effluent. In addition, levels of NMOR remained stable during the biological treatment and disinfection processes. The present research demonstrated that NMOR could be formed from morpholine (MOR) in raw sewage treated by this STP, with a possible mechanism being formaldehyde-catalyzed nitrosation of MOR by nitrites, prior to raw sewage entering the STP. This implies that the NMOR detected here might not be a disinfection byproduct per se under low-chlorine disinfection (around 1.0 mg/L), but is primarily a contaminant that is difficult to remove during sewage treatment. NMOR attenuated significantly in the rivers in the daytime with production of MOR, but persisted during nights, which demonstrated the importance of monitoring NMOR levels in the water environment during periods of low UV intensity, especially nights.

Water reclamation and reuse

Literature published in 2018 pertinent to water reclamation and reuse has been classified into five topics: safe reuse, treatment technologies, management, assessment, and case studies. Researches have been conducted to develop new technologies and improve conventional treatments for achieving sustainable wastewater reclamation, and increasing efforts have been made to facilitate safe water reuse. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The way of publicity greatly influences people's acceptance of water reuse and willingness to purchase produce irrigated with recycled water. Integrated process is the most commonly used treatment technology to reclaim water. There is a lack of local or regional regulatory and policy for sustainable water management.

Removal of chlorpheniramine and variations of nitrosamine formation potentials in municipal wastewaters by adsorption onto the GO-Fe3O4

Chlorpheniramine is a pharmaceutical pollutant and a precursor of carcinogenic nitrosamines during disinfection/oxidation. In our previous study, graphene oxide coated with magnetite (GO-Fe₃O₄) was capable of removing chlorpheniramine in deionized water by adsorption. This study investigated the removal of chlorpheniramine and its nitrosamine formation potentials (FPs) by adsorption onto magnetic GO-Fe₃O₄, with respect to the influence by using real municipal wastewaters as the background. In the results, the adsorption performances of chlorpheniramine in wastewaters decreased in the order: GO-Fe₃O₄ suspension > GO-Fe₃O₄ particles > activated carbon. Chlorpheniramine adsorptions on GO-Fe₃O₄ particles and activated carbon were reduced by using real wastewaters as the background, whereas chlorpheniramine adsorption on GO-Fe₃O₄ suspension was enhanced due to the effects of surface charge on GO-Fe₃O₄ and ionic strength variation in water. The fittings of adsorption isotherms indicated that the wastewater background reduced the surface heterogeneity of GO-Fe₃O₄ suspension and improved the adsorption performance. Appreciable removal efficiencies of NDMA and other nitrosamine FPs were observed when GO-Fe₃O₄ particles were added in real wastewaters. However, when chlorpheniramine was present in wastewaters, chlorpheniramine adsorption and degradation reaction simultaneously occurred on the surface of GO-Fe₃O₄, increasing NDMA and other nitrosamine FPs in wastewaters after GO-Fe₃O₄ addition for chlorpheniramine adsorption. The assumption was further demonstrated by observing the NDMA-FP increase during chlorpheniramine adsorption on GO-Fe₃O₄ in deionized water. GO-Fe₃O₄ is a potential adsorbent for chlorpheniramine removal. Nevertheless, the low treatment efficiencies at high doses limit its application for nitrosamine FP adsorptions in real wastewaters.

Ozone and ozone/vacuum-UV degradation of diethyl dithiocarbamate collector: kinetics, mineralization, byproducts and pathways

The diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDC) collector, a precursor of toxic N-nitrosamines, is detected in flotation wastewaters usually at the ppm level. In this study, the O₃ and O₃/Vacuum-UV (O₃/VUV) processes were compared to investigate the efficient removal of DDC with a low risk of N-nitrosamine formation. The results showed that 99.55% of DDC was removed at 20 min by O₃/VUV, and the degradation rate constant was 3.99 times higher than that using O₃-alone. The C, S and N mineralization extents of DDC using O₃/VUV reached 36.36%, 62.69% and 79.76% at 90 min, respectively. O₃/VUV achieved a much higher mineralization extent of DDC than O₃-alone. After 90 min of degradation, O₃/VUV achieved lower residual concentrations of CS₂ and H₂S, and released lower amounts of gaseous sulfur byproducts compared to O₃-alone. The solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE/GC–MS) analysis indicated that the main byproducts in O₃/VUV degradation of DDC were amide compounds without the detection of N-nitrosamines. The avoidance of N-nitrosamine formation might be attributed to exposure of UV irradiation and enhanced formation of ˙OH radicals in the O₃/VUV system. The degradation pathways of DDC were proposed. This work indicated that O₃/VUV was an efficient alternative treatment technique for the removal of DDC flotation collector with low risk of N-nitrosamine formation.

The diethyl dithiocarbamate collector, a precursor of toxic N-nitrosamines, can be effectively degraded by the O₃/VUV with satisfactory mineralization extents.