Nanotechnology applications for removal of disinfection by-products from water

An Opinion on the Removal of Disinfection Byproducts from Drinking Water

“…Thus, different approaches to hinder their formation can be viable. For instance, a decrease in the organic matter content in water prior to the disinfection stage would allow a decrease in DBPs' precursors and, consequently, in chlorine use [21]. One downfall of this is that a greater understanding of the different mechanisms that lead to the formation of DBPs is required to make this single approach viable.…”

“…Another approach consists of the removal of DBPs formed via disinfection (without any change in the process prior to the disinfection) [7,21,22,24]. The current technologies utilized are focused mainly on the removal of DBPs after their formation and less on preventing their formation; however, the latter is the most efficient approach for their reduction.…”

“…The current technologies utilized are focused mainly on the removal of DBPs after their formation and less on preventing their formation; however, the latter is the most efficient approach for their reduction. In this sense, wastewater treatment plants tend to remove organic matter in bulk, as well as other water impurities, before disinfection, but more specific treatments aimed at NOM removal before chlorination are not carried out so often [21,25]. Therefore, studies should be intensified, aiming at establishing preventive measures and practices to ensure drinking water quality and mitigate problems along the whole chain of distribution, thus reducing DBP formation and, subsequently, the need for intensive disinfection.…”