Inorganic Chloramines as Drinking Water Disinfectants: A Review

Abstract

Although chloramines have been used to disinfect drinking water in the United States for more than 60 years, interest in these disinfectants has recently increased with the discovery that much lower levels of halogenated organics are produced during chloramination than during chlorination. Considerable controversy exists, however, regarding the effectiveness of chloramines as microbicidal agents and their possible effects on human health. This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the use of chloramines in disinfection, including their chemical properties; their effectiveness against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa; and the toxic effects they produce in humans and wildlife. The use of laboratory findings for predicting the efficiency of chloramines in the field is also addressed.

Using ozonation and chloramination to reduce the formation of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in drinking water

“…This disinfectant is not commonly used in the Province of Quebec. The other advantages of chtoramines are that they are stable in the distribution system, efficient for taste and odour control, and they favour biofilm control [13][14][15]. However, as yet, limited information is available on DBP formation associated with chloramines [16].…”

Antimicrobial Agents and Applications on Polymeric Materials

“…In addition, chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloromethane and oxidized organic compounds are produced after using chlorine, and those products may be toxic. Indeed, trihalomethanes are suspected carcinogens [34][35][36][37] . …”

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Inorganic Materials Changes with Time in the Stages of the Wastewater Treatment Plant

“…Furthermore, the phosphate compounds, and particularly the polyphosphates, were proposed as good removals to the inorganic wastes [7]. Chemical oxidants such as ozone, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and chloramines, besides their disinfection role, were also used since a number of organic and inorganic compounds can go reactions with these oxidants [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. One case of oxidants is chlorine, which was reported capable to undergo reactions with numerous inorganic and organic micro pollutants [17].…”

“…In water treatment using chemical oxidants, the ozone, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and chloramines are reported used for various purposes: disinfection of microorganisms, oxidation in taste and odor control, and elimination of the micro pollutants [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Under certain circumstances, these oxidants could induce the formation of the harmful by-products due to their highly reactivity with water matrix components and micro pollutants [18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”