Competitive removal of DOM and bromide in raw waters by MIEX and iron coagulation

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) and bromide as principal precursors to halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have potential risks on the safety of drinking water after disinfection. Removal of DOM and bromide in raw water from two different waterworks using magnetic ion exchange resin (MIEX), ferric coagulation and their combination was investigated. Results showed that as MIEX dose increased, DOM and bromide coexisting in raw water could be removed effectively. DOM tended to be mainly removed by MIEX at low dose (<4 mL/L), regardless of the bromide concentration. Bromide could compete for exchange sites with DOM at high MIEX dosage (>4 mL/L). The fluorescence spectra and high performance size-exclusion chromatogram analysis indicated that at low MIEX dosage, bromide decreased the removal of low molecular weight (MW), soluble microbial byproduct-like and aromatic protein-like organic matters, which had lower affinity with MIEX in raw water. The removal of high MW humic acid, which presented greater affinity with MIEX, was not influenced at low MIEX dose but decreased at high MIEX dose with the addition of bromide. The combination of MIEX and ferric coagulation significantly enhanced the removal of DOM and reduced the requisite ferric dose by at least 67% compared to coagulation alone.