Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid

Bromate (BrO3-) in drinking water is traditionally seen as an ozonation byproduct from the oxidation of bromide (Br-), and its formation during chlorination is usually not significant. This study shows enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of cup...

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Main Authors: Liu, C., Von Gunten, U., Croué, Jean-Philippe
Format: Journal Article
Published: American Chemical Society 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49923
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author Liu, C.
Von Gunten, U.
Croué, Jean-Philippe
author_facet Liu, C.
Von Gunten, U.
Croué, Jean-Philippe
author_sort Liu, C.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Bromate (BrO3-) in drinking water is traditionally seen as an ozonation byproduct from the oxidation of bromide (Br-), and its formation during chlorination is usually not significant. This study shows enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of cupric oxide (CuO). CuO was effective to catalyze hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hypobromous acid (HOBr) decay (e.g., at least 104 times enhancement for HOBr at pH 8.6 by 0.2 g L-1 CuO). Significant halate concentrations were formed from a CuO-catalyzed hypohalite disproportionation pathway. For example, the chlorate concentration was 2.7 ± 0.2 µM (225.5 ± 16.7 µg L-1) after 90 min for HOCl (Co = 37 µM, 2.6 mg L-1 Cl2) in the presence of 0.2 g L-1 CuO at pH 7.6, and the bromate concentration was 6.6 ± 0.5 µM (844.8 ± 64 µg L -1) after 180 min for HOBr (Co = 35 µM) in the presence of 0.2 g L-1 CuO at pH 8.6. The maximum halate formation was at pHs 7.6 and 8.6 for HOCl or HOBr, respectively, which are close to their corresponding pKa values. In a HOCl-Br--CuO system, BrO3- formation increases with increasing CuO doses and initial HOCl and Br- concentrations. A molar conversion (Br - to BrO3-) of up to (90 ± 1)% could be achieved in the HOCl-Br--CuO system because of recycling of Br - to HOBr by HOCl, whereas the maximum BrO3- yield in HOBr-CuO is only 26%. Bromate formation is initiated by the formation of a complex between CuO and HOBr/OBr-, which then reacts with HOBr to generate bromite. Bromite is further oxidized to BrO3- by a second CuO-catalyzed process. These novel findings may have implications for bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing drinking waters in copper pipes.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-499232018-03-29T09:07:08Z Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid Liu, C. Von Gunten, U. Croué, Jean-Philippe Bromate (BrO3-) in drinking water is traditionally seen as an ozonation byproduct from the oxidation of bromide (Br-), and its formation during chlorination is usually not significant. This study shows enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of cupric oxide (CuO). CuO was effective to catalyze hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hypobromous acid (HOBr) decay (e.g., at least 104 times enhancement for HOBr at pH 8.6 by 0.2 g L-1 CuO). Significant halate concentrations were formed from a CuO-catalyzed hypohalite disproportionation pathway. For example, the chlorate concentration was 2.7 ± 0.2 µM (225.5 ± 16.7 µg L-1) after 90 min for HOCl (Co = 37 µM, 2.6 mg L-1 Cl2) in the presence of 0.2 g L-1 CuO at pH 7.6, and the bromate concentration was 6.6 ± 0.5 µM (844.8 ± 64 µg L -1) after 180 min for HOBr (Co = 35 µM) in the presence of 0.2 g L-1 CuO at pH 8.6. The maximum halate formation was at pHs 7.6 and 8.6 for HOCl or HOBr, respectively, which are close to their corresponding pKa values. In a HOCl-Br--CuO system, BrO3- formation increases with increasing CuO doses and initial HOCl and Br- concentrations. A molar conversion (Br - to BrO3-) of up to (90 ± 1)% could be achieved in the HOCl-Br--CuO system because of recycling of Br - to HOBr by HOCl, whereas the maximum BrO3- yield in HOBr-CuO is only 26%. Bromate formation is initiated by the formation of a complex between CuO and HOBr/OBr-, which then reacts with HOBr to generate bromite. Bromite is further oxidized to BrO3- by a second CuO-catalyzed process. These novel findings may have implications for bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing drinking waters in copper pipes. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49923 10.1021/es3021793 American Chemical Society restricted
spellingShingle Liu, C.
Von Gunten, U.
Croué, Jean-Philippe
Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid
title Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid
title_full Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid
title_fullStr Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid
title_short Enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of CuO: Catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid
title_sort enhanced bromate formation during chlorination of bromide-containing waters in the presence of cuo: catalytic disproportionation of hypobromous acid
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49923