The presence of aliphatic and aromatic amines in reservoir and canal water as precursors to disinfection by-products

ABSTRACT

This research aimed at determining the dimethylamine (DMA), diethylamine (DEA), dibutylamine (DBA), and aromatic aniline (AN) in reservoir and canal water in the U-Tapao River Basin, Songkhla, Thailand. The trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and N-nitrosodimethylamine formation potential (NDMA-FP) of the reservoir and canal water were analyzed. Water samples from two reservoirs and raw water from water treatment plants at upstream, midstream, and downstream locations of the canal were collected twice. The analysis of the DMA, DEA, DBA, and AN were conducted using gas chromatography and spectrofluorometry techniques. The DMA, DEA, and DBA levels in the reservoir and canal waters ranged from not detectable (ND) to 10 µg/L and from ND to 21.2 µg/L, respectively. AN was detected from 123 to 129 ng/L and from 112 to 177 ng/L in the reservoir and canal waters, respectively. The DMA, DEA, DBA, and AN exhibited two fluorescent peaks at 230nm_Ex/345nm_Em and 280 nm_Ex/355nm_Em. These two peaks corresponded to the peak positions of tryptophan. Detection limits of DMA, DEA, and DBA for fluorescent analysis were 500 μg/L whereas that of AN and tryptophan were 10 and 0.5 μg/L, respectively. The NDMA-FP measured in all the water samples was lower than the detection limit of 237 ng/L. THMFP ranged from 175 to 248 μg/L and 214 to 429 μg/L was detected in the reservoir and canal waters, respectively. The THMFP/dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of the reservoir and canal waters were comparable within the ranges of 73 to 131 µg THMFP/mg DOC.

KEYWORDS:

• Aliphatic and aromatic amines
• canal
• reservoir
• FEEM
• THMFP
• NDMA-FP

Funding

This research was jointly funded by the Thailand National Research Fund project, Songkhla Lake, Songkhla Province, Thailand with bilateral support given by the Prince of Songkla University (contract number ENG550369S), Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.