|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
2001
>
September
> |
|
In the Laboratory
|
|
|
|
Gas Chromatography Analyses for Trihalomethanes: An Experiment Illustrating Important Sources of Disinfection By-Products in Water Treatment
|
Terese M. Olson
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125
Alicia C. Gonzalez
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, La Verne, CA 91750
Victor R. Vasquez
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region, San Diego, CA 92124
|
|
September 2001
Vol. 78 No. 9
p. 1231
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Abstract |
|
Chlorination processes are an important disinfection strategy in drinking water treatment. Side-reactions of chlorine species with naturally present organic matter, however, are known to produce toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). One important class of DBPs is trihalomethanes. This experiment demonstrates how trihalomethanes form in a chlorination process by using a model substrate, resorcinol, to mimic the reactive moieties present in natural organic matter. To further simulate how bromo-substituted trihalomethanes are typically obtained in a chlorination process, bromide is also added to the resorcinol solution. Reaction pathways and yields for the formation of trihalomethanes are discussed. The experiment provides a meaningful example of gas chromatography analyses of mixtures of environmentally relevant compounds and is suitable for an undergraduate junior/senior level or graduate environmental chemistry course.
|
| Supplement |
Equipment, reagent, and stock solution lists, details of the experimental procedure, and suggestions for trouble shooting, possible variations of the experiment, and sample post-laboratory questions are available.
|
 Contents |
JCE2001p1231W.doc (MS Word)
|
| Download |
|
|
| More Information |
Citation |
Olson, Terese M.; Gonzalez, Alicia C.; Vasquez, Victor R. J. Chem. Educ. 2001 78 1231.
|
Keywords |
Chromatography; Environmental Chemistry; Instrumental Methods; Laboratory Instruction; Quantitative Analysis
|
History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
August 14, 2001
August 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
2001
>
September
> Page
1231
|
|
|
| JCE HS CLIC |
|
Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.
|
| Contributions Welcome |
| JCE welcomes your submission |
| Advertisers |
| In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first. |
| Be An Ambassador |
| Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants. |
|
