1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

THM formation modeling in treated water using the rapid organic characterization technique

AuthorWeragoda, Sujithra Kaushaliya
Call NumberAIT Thesis no.EV-05-25
NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
AbstractChlorination remains as one of the simplest and cheapest disinfection methods used in water treatment. Moreover, chlorine is unique in providing residual effect. However, it has become a questionable technique, after identifying the potential for formation of trihelomethane in chlorinated water. This research has been carried out based on three water treatment plants located in Mahasawat, Pathumthani and Bangkhen, Thailand. These treatment plants were evaluated to find out the efficiency on TOC removal in the treatment process. The highest TOC removal efficiencies have been achieved by the Pathumthani water treatment plant as 30 % and 20 % in sedimentation and filtration, respectively. The main objective of this research was to correlate the results of rapid organic characterization technique with modeling of Cl decay in each TOC fraction. Two separate empirical models were developed, using a modeling software, named AQAUSIM. The model on the treated water from Bangkhen water treatment plant has proven that the highest Cl demand is due the presence of very hydrophobic acid (VAH) in treated water. It could be estimated the reduction of Cl demand in Bangkhen treated water as 70 % of its total. Besides to that, the results of rapid organic characterization have proven that the hydrophilic charged organic fraction (CHA) was the most responsible for the formation of total trihelomethane (60 % of TTHM). The similar studies on the treated water of Pathumthani treatment plant, have verified the finding on THM formation potential. General guidelines for chlorination were developed, based on the results. These research outputs can be used to modify water treatment technology to minimize the threat of THM. Furthermore, the know-how of this research can be used to reduce the cost of chlorination and enhance the safeguard of consumers from microbiological contamination.
Year2005
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)
DepartmentDepartment of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC))
Academic Program/FoSEnvironmental Engineering and Management (EV)
Chairperson(s)Visvanathan, C.;
Examination Committee(s)Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh;Nowarat Coowanitwong ;
Scholarship Donor(s)Joint Japan;World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program ;
DegreeThesis (M.Eng.) -- Asian Institute of Technology, 2005


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