Simple and Sensitive Method for Synchronous Quantification of Regulated and Unregulated Priority Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water.

TL;DR: In this article , a simple and sensitive method for simultaneously measuring 9 classes of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) is presented, which allows the synchronous analysis of nine classes of regulated and unregulated priority DBPs and overcomes the weaknesses of some other methods.

Abstract: Due to their elevated concentrations in drinking water, compared to other emerging environmental contaminants, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have become a global concern. To address this, we have created a simple and sensitive method for simultaneously measuring 9 classes of DBPs. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and iodo-acetic acids (IAAs) are determined using silylation derivatization, replacing diazomethane or acidic methanol derivatization with a more environmentally friendly and simpler treatment process that also offers greater sensitivity. Mono-/di-haloacetaldehydes (mono-/di-HALs) are directly analyzed without derivatization, along with trihalomethanes (THMs), iodo-THMs, haloketones, haloacetonitriles, haloacetamides, and halonitromethanes. Of the 50 DBPs studied, recoveries for most were 70-130%, LOQs for most were 0.01-0.05 μg/L, and relative standard deviations were <30%. We subsequently applied this method to 13 home tap water samples. Total concentrations of 9 classes of DBPs were 39.6-79.2 μg/L, in which unregulated priority DBPs contributed 42% of total DBP concentrations and 97% of total calculated cytotoxicity, highlighting the importance of monitoring their presence in drinking water. Br-DBPs were the dominant contributors to total DBPs (54%) and total calculated cytotoxicity (92%). Nitrogenous DBPs contributed 25% of total DBPs while inducing 57% of total calculated cytotoxicity. HALs were the most important toxicity drivers (40%), particularly four mono-/di-HALs, which induced 28% of total calculated cytotoxicity. This simple and sensitive method allows the synchronous analysis of 9 classes of regulated and unregulated priority DBPs and overcomes the weaknesses of some other methods especially for HAAs/IAAs and mono-/di-HALs, providing a useful tool for research on regulated and unregulated priority DBPs.