title: Characterization of low molecular weight dissolved natural organic matter along the treatment trait of a waterworks using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.
abstract: Dissolved natural organic matter (DOM), particularly the low molecular weight DOM, can affect the performance of water treatment processes and serve as a main precursor of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination. In this study, electrospray ionization coupled to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS) was used to characterize the low molecular weight DOM along the treatment trait of a conventional drinking water treatment plant. The ESI FT-ICR MS data showed that various C, H, O-only class species were the major components in the source water. According to the van Krevelen diagram analysis, lignin- and tannin-like compounds were the most abundant components. Within an isobaric group, the DOM molecules with a high degree of oxidation (high O/C value) were preferentially removed during coagulation, while those with low degree of oxidation were found to be more reactive toward chlorine. In addition, 357 one-chlorine containing products and 199 two-chlorine containing products formed during chlorination were detected in the chlorination effluent sample at a high confidence level. The chlorinated products can be arranged into series, suggesting that they were originated from C, H, O-only precursor compounds, which were in series related by the replacement of CH(4) against oxygen. For the first time, this study explored the behavior of low molecular weight DOM along a drinking water treatment trait on the molecular level, and revealed the presence of abundant unknown chlorinated products, which are probably rich in carboxylic and phenolic groups, in drinking water.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yahe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shuoyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D017357:Cyclotrons; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D054879:Halogenation; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D013634:Tannins / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D006812:Humic Substances; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D013634:Tannins; D008031:Lignin