Zhang Di, Shen Qiming, Li Xing-Fang
Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada.
ACS Environ Au. 2025 Feb 14;5(3):308-318. doi: 10.1021/acsenvironau.4c00133. eCollection 2025 May 21.
Amino-containing compounds are key precursors to highly toxic nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and odorous DBPs, posing a critical challenge for drinking water utilities. This study systematically evaluated the adsorption performance of six commercial powdered activated carbons (PACs) for removing soluble amino-containing compounds using amino acids as model compounds. Among them, PHF and AN PAC demonstrated superior removal efficiencies for six tested amino acids, ranging from 77 to 98% for PHF PAC and 83 to 96% for AN PAC. Subsequent analysis focused on PHF, AN, and HB PACs to investigate adsorption kinetics and effects of water parameters, including initial amino acid concentration, pH, and natural organic matter (NOM) on removal efficiencies. Optimal removal efficiencies were observed for PHF and AN PACs at pH levels between 6 and 8, while increased NOM levels significantly reduced amino acid adsorption. Finally, a hydrogen/deuterium isotopic labeling-based nontargeted analysis was applied to evaluate the removal of amino-containing compounds from source water (represented by Suwannee River standard reference materials). PHF exhibited the highest removal efficiency, achieving a 47% reduction in the total ion chromatogram (TIC) intensity of labeled amino-containing features, followed by AN at 21% and HB at 19%. The decrease in the TIC intensity and number of labeled amino-containing features aligned with the trends observed in adsorption, establishes a consistent ranking of PHF > AN > HB PAC. PAC can be seamlessly integrated into existing drinking water treatment processes and applied on an as-needed basis. Our results could provide valuable guidance for its effective application in water treatment plants.
含氮化合物是剧毒含氮消毒副产物（DBPs）和有气味的DBPs的关键前体，这给饮用水处理厂带来了严峻挑战。本研究系统评估了六种商业粉末活性炭（PACs）以氨基酸为模型化合物去除可溶性含氮化合物的吸附性能。其中，PHF和AN PAC对六种测试氨基酸表现出卓越的去除效率，PHF PAC的去除效率在77%至98%之间，AN PAC的去除效率在83%至96%之间。后续分析聚焦于PHF、AN和HB PACs，以研究吸附动力学以及包括初始氨基酸浓度、pH值和天然有机物（NOM）在内的水质参数对去除效率的影响。在pH值为6至8时，PHF和AN PACs的去除效率最佳，而NOM水平的增加显著降低了氨基酸的吸附。最后，采用基于氢/氘同位素标记的非靶向分析来评估源水（以苏万尼河标准参考物质为代表）中含氮化合物的去除情况。PHF的去除效率最高，标记的含氮特征的总离子色谱图（TIC）强度降低了47%，其次是AN，为21%，HB为19%。TIC强度和标记的含氮特征数量的减少与吸附观察到的趋势一致，确立了PHF > AN > HB PAC的一致排名。PAC可以无缝集成到现有的饮用水处理工艺中，并根据需要应用。我们的结果可为其在水处理厂的有效应用提供有价值的指导。
