Nuclear Science and Techniques

Abstract:

The formation of bromate, a classified potential carcinogen, is of great concern when disinfection processes are used for treating high-bromide drinking waters. Bromide-containing aqueous solutions with various additives were irradiated by 60Co source. With a 2:0 kGy irradiation of N2O-saturated solutions at initial bromide concentrations of 180:2 μg/l, 416:9 μg/l, 663:1 μg/l and 823:9 μg/l. 79.5%, 84.0%, 87.3% and 88.3% of bromide ions were transformed to bromate, respectively. Addomg CO3 2–/HCO3 – or NO3 – ions into N2Osaturated bromide solutions, the amount of bromate ions formed decreased with increasing concentrations of the additives. On the other hand, the bromate concentration was all below the detection limit of 1 μg/l whenever N2O was not added to quench eaq – and
H. The results indicated that -rays irradiation could be used as a disinfection process, instead of ozonation, to comply with upcoming more stringent regulations, especially in waters containing high concentrations of bromide.

Key words: Bromide, Bromate, Gamma irradiation, Disinfection