Trihalomethanes (THMs) formation in multi-stage flash (MSF) distillation units

Factors governing the formation of THM compounds (mono- and di-substituted chlorine and bromine derivatives in addition to chloroform and bromoform) from chlorinated seawater used as feed to a multi-stage flash distillation plant are reviewed. The principal factor which determined the extent of THM...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Desalination 1989-01, Vol.74 (1/3), p.205-226
Main Authors: Latif, NA, Al-Awadi, F M, Colenutt, BA
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Factors governing the formation of THM compounds (mono- and di-substituted chlorine and bromine derivatives in addition to chloroform and bromoform) from chlorinated seawater used as feed to a multi-stage flash distillation plant are reviewed. The principal factor which determined the extent of THM formation was the residual chlorine level, while the high bromine concentration of seawater in the Persian gulf gave rise to a preponderance of brominated forms in the distillate. From an analysis of THM concentrations throughout the successive stages it was shown that from an initial THM concentration at the input of 5.75 ug per litre, 55.9 per cent was transferred to the distillate product, 39.2 per cent was rejected in gases vented to atmosphere and 4.9 per cent was retained in brine rejected as blowdown. From a mass balance over all the stages, it was thus calculated that the final distillate product contained only 11.24 per cent of the THM present in the make-up feedwater.
ISSN:0011-9164