Foresight Look on the Disinfection By-Products Formation

Abstract

In the water treatment industry, if there is a process that has attracted polemic discussion in terms of pros and cons disinfection has attracted the main part for its disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation. This work focuses on DBPs precursors, link among disinfection and DBPs, DBPs elimination, and study futures. During the last half-century, chlorination has been shown highly toxic to human health. Indeed, as a classical disinfectant, chlorine generates a bigger number of halogenated by-products than other disinfectants. Unfortunately, novel disinfection techniques and emerging pollutants in water can form fresh DBPs. DBPs surfacing lately are frequently with low levels and elevated poisoning. Further, as the oxidizing agent of the disinfectant increases, the formation of conventional DBPs is reduced, but more toxic DBPs emerge. Membrane processes, such as ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, depicted greater performance in eliminating organic matter if paralleled with traditional techniques. As a perspective, research should concentrate on physical processes such as distillation and/or solar disinfection, and filtration for better water treatment instead of injecting chemicals into water highly previously chemically polluted.