Performance of BAC for DBPs precursors' removal for one year with micro-polluted lake water in East-China

Effectiveness of biological activated carbon (BAC) filter in removing disinfection byproducts (DBPs) precursors of micro-polluted lake water for one year was conducted. The formation potential (FP) of DBPs (trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and Nitrosamines (NAs)), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), molecular weight (MW) distribution and excitation emission matrix fluorescence (EEM) of dissolved organic material (DOM) in the influent and effluent of BAC were determined. The results indicated that the removal efficiency (RE) of DOC ranged from 42.9-28.3%. Neither virgin GAC nor long-term operated BAC could efficiently dispose of THMs and HAAs precursors (RE from 35.2-18.8%, from 42 to 8.4%, respectively), however, BAC still showed good ability in removal of NAs precursors after a year operation, of which RE just dropped from 81.7-69.6%. There was strong correlation between RE of NAs precursors and DOC with small MW (<0.5 kDa). The removal of HAAs precursors showed relatively close relation to aromatic protein-like components and soluble microbial pollutants (SMPs). Weak direct relationship was found between the water quality parameters and THMs precursors.