• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.769-775
• /
• 2013

UV-induced transformations in the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the subsequent effects on the disinfection by-product formation potential (DBPFP) were investigated using the mixtures of the two humic substances with different sources, and two different size fractions of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA). 7 day-photodegradation resulted in the decrease of specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) of the mixtures as well as the specific DBPFP. After the irradiation, however, higher specific DBPFP values were consistently observed at the same range of the SUVA values. This suggests that non UV-absorbing components, generated by the UV-irradiation, may contribute to the formation of DBPs. Two different molecular size fractions of SRFA showed dissimilar responses to photodegradation. The behavior was also influenced by the types of the DBPs generated. Higher levels of trihalomethenes (THMs) were formed per organic carbon for the high molecular fraction compared to the low molecular fraction, whereas no differences were found in the formation of haloacetic acids (HAAs) between the two different size fractions. The formation of the two types of DBPs also differed by the irradiation times. Specific formation potential of THMs consistently increased upon the irradiation, whereas HAAs showed the initial increase followed by the decrease in their specific formation potential.