Formation of Bromate During Ferrate(VI) Oxidation of Bromide in Water

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2016

Abstract

Ferrate (VI) is traditionally recognized as a safe oxidant without production of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). However, here we detected probable carcinogenic bromate (BrO 3 - ) during ferrate(VI) oxidation of bromide (Br - )-containing water, and evaluated the effects of pH, ferrate(VI) dose, initial Br - concentration, and co-existing anions on the BrO 3 - formation. BrO 3 - was produced at a moderately-weakly acidic pH condition and in the absence of phosphate that was commonly applied as a buffer and stabilizing agent in previous ferrate(VI) studies. At pH 5.0, the produced BrO 3 - was increased from 12.5 to 273.8 μg/L with the increasing initial Br - concentration from 200 to 1000 μg/L at 10 mg/L Fe(VI), corresponding to an increase in the molar conversion ([BrO 3 - ]/initial [Br - ]) from 2.3% to 10.3%, in a bicarbonate-buffered solution. As pH increased to 7.0, the BrO 3 - concentration gradually dropped. The BrO 3 - production appeared to be associated with the oxidation by high valence iron species (i.e. Fe(VI), Fe(V) and Fe(IV)). Two key intermediate products (i.e. hypobromous acid/hypobromite (HOBr/OBr - ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )) relevant to the bromate formation were identified. The production of HOBr, a requisite intermediate for the ensuing bromate formation, was indirectly validated through identification of bromine-containing trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids during ferrate oxidation in a natural water, though these bromo-organic DBPs produced were insignificant. Furthermore, the inhibition effects of various anions on the formation of BrO 3 - followed chloride < sulfate < silicate < phosphate. More H 2 O 2 was detected at higher phosphate concentration. It could reduce HOBr to Br - , thereby inhibiting the bromate formation.

DOI

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.04.093

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