This study assessed the impact of chemical coagulation using alum on the removal of three endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs; bisphenol A, clofibric acid and estriol) and nine pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs; acetaminophen, carbamazepine, diclofenac, gemfibrozil, ketoprofen, naproxen, pentoxifylline, sulfamethoxazole and sulfachloropyridazine). The impact on natural organic matter (NOM) fractions as determined using liquid chromatography–organic carbon detection (LC–OCD; total dissolved organic carbon (DOC), hydrophobic DOC, biopolymers, humic substances, building blocks, low molecular weight neutrals and acids) was also examined. Three test surface waters were included: Lake Ontario, Grand River and Otonabee River water (Ontario, Canada). Gemfibrozil concentrations were reduced in both Otonabee and Grand River waters. Reductions were noted for carbamazepine and (inconsistently) for acetaminophen, and estrone appeared to increase in concentration in Grand River water with increasing alum doses. NOM removal was primarily attributed to the humic fraction, with small reductions in biopolymers in all of the waters studied.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
September 14 2013
The impact of alum coagulation on pharmaceutically active compounds, endocrine disrupting compounds and natural organic matter Available to Purchase
Sabrina Diemert;
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, 35 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A4
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Robert C. Andrews
Robert C. Andrews
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, 35 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A4
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Supply (2013) 13 (5): 1348–1357.
Article history
Received:
July 27 2012
Accepted:
March 11 2013
Citation
Sabrina Diemert, Robert C. Andrews; The impact of alum coagulation on pharmaceutically active compounds, endocrine disrupting compounds and natural organic matter. Water Supply 1 September 2013; 13 (5): 1348–1357. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2013.145
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00