Formation of chlorinated hydrocarbons by water chlorination

Abstract Model experiments were carried out on the reaction behaviour of benzene, phenol and phenylalanine during chlorination with NaOCI in aqueous solution. The influence of the pH-value, concentration, reaction time and UV-light were also determined. These experiments were conducted under conditions similar to chlorination of water and the reaction products were identified by capillary GC and GC/MS. All chlorinated isomers of benzene including HCB, formed by chlorination of benzene, were identified and quantified. However, monochlorobenzene was the major reaction product (in μg/I-concentrations). The chlorinated organic substances formed by the reaction of phenol with NaOCI were determined quantitatively. Phenylalanine/NaOCI reaction lead to the formation of 22 chlorinated organic compounds. Thirteen of these were identified and quantified. Under the influence of UV-light, the reaction of benzene/NaOCI formed primarily higher chlorinated propane derivatives, chlorinated phenols and octachlorocyclohexandiene derivatives. Similar results were obtained with the reaction of phenol/NaOCI and the phenylalanine/NaOCI. The formation of chloroform during all these reactions were determined quantitatively.