Alternative Techniques to Increase the Dechlorination Kinetics of Organic Chloramines

Organic chloramines are a potential source of aquatic toxicity. Destruction of organic chloramines by dechlorination with sulfur dioxide is possible. However, the reaction proceeds slowly. The goal of this study was to investigate reaction enhancements to accelerate the dechlorination of organic chloramines. The dechlorination enhancements investigated were 1. Aeration mixing, 2. Chemical addition, and 3. Radiation activation. Aeration mixing was done with an air diffuser. Chemical addition included an additional dechlorinating agent, sodium sulfide. Short-wave ultraviolet radiation applied to the reaction was the third alternative. Dechlorination rates were tracked using MICROTOX analysis. The results of this laboratory bench-scale investigation indicate that each of the enhancement alternatives did accelerate the dechlorination kinetics of organic chloramines.