Characterization of the precursors of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in the Yuqiao Reservoir in China.

To identify the primary precursors of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in the Yuqiao Reservoir in China, dissolved organic matters in the source water were isolated and fractionated into five different fractions (with XAD resin), and both trihalomethane and haloacetic acid formation potentials in each fraction were analysed by liquid-liquid extraction and GC-ECD. The primary precursors of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids were identified using the index of disinfection by-product formation potential and specific disinfection by-product formation potential. In addition, the relationship between the specific ultraviolet absorbance and the specific disinfection by-product formation potential was studied using correlation analysis. The results indicated that during the sampling period, the hydrophobic acids and hydrophilic matter are the primary organic fractions in the Yuqiao Reservoir, accounting for 27.6-40.9% and 21.2-32.5%, respectively. Among the five fractions, the hydrophobic acids had the highest disinfection by-product formation potential and specific disinfection by-product formation potential, indicating that the hydrophobic acids were the primary precursors of the disinfection by-products in the Yuqiao Reservoir. A correlation analysis indicates that the specific ultraviolet absorbance had a moderately positive correlation with the specific disinfection by-product formation potential; therefore, the specific ultraviolet absorbance can be a reference index to analyse the ability of organic matter to generate disinfection by-products.