Natural organic matter fractionation: XAD resins versus UF membranes. An investigation into THM formation

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma H. Goslan ◽  
Derek Wilson ◽  
Jenny Banks ◽  
Peter Hillis ◽  
Andrew Campbell ◽  
...  

An increase in reservoir water colour over the last 10 years has been impacting on the ability of water treatment works (WTWs) in the UK to meet THM regulations. The problem is exacerbated in autumn particularly after heavy rainfall. It appears that residual organics are labile precursors to disinfection by-products (DBPs). One WTW was investigated to determine a link between raw water characteristics and reactivity with chlorine. Bulk water parameters were measured but the information obtained was limited. To further characterise the water, samples of reservoir water were fractionated using XAD resins and UF membranes. The resulting fractions were subjected to analysis of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV254), specific UV absorbance (SUVA) defined as the ratio of UV254 to DOC and trihalomethane formation potential (THM-FP). The samples were also characterised using high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). Both methods of fractionation described here have limitations in explaining the bulk water behaviour. The relationship between SUVA and THM-FP was discussed. HPSEC showed that the size distribution of the resin separated and membrane separated fractions was similar indicating that the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the membranes is not sharp.

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Euis Nurul Hidayah ◽  
Yung-Chen Chou ◽  
Hsuan-Hsien Yeh

In this study high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) was used to compare an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane and alum coagulation for their capacity to remove different fractions of natural organic matter (NOM) from water. At the same time, the removal of disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors, as measured by trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and haloacetic acid formation potential (HAAFP), was also detected. The results show that the UF membrane mainly removed the aliphatic biopolymer fraction, while alum coagulation mainly removed the humic substances fraction. The results of DBP precursor analysis show that more THMFP was removed by the UF membrane than HAAFP, while the reverse was true for alum coagulation. It is conjectured that the aliphatic biopolymer fraction is the major precursor for trihalomethanes (THMs), while the humic substances fraction is the major precursor for haloacetic acids (HAAs).


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 89-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Fabris ◽  
C.W.K. Chow ◽  
M. Drikas

Three different powdered activated carbons were applied in combination with aluminium sulphate to treat a high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) source water with a focus on improving natural organic matter removal. Treated water quality was analysed using absorbance at 254 nm, DOC, trihalomethane formation potential (THM-FP), rapid fractionation, C13 NMR and molecular weight distribution by high performance size exclusion chromatography. Carbon C and B offered equivalent DOC removal but carbon C was considered superior as treated water THM-FP was reduced. It is postulated that an organic fraction around 1000 Daltons is responsible for differences in THM-FP shown in the treated waters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 2043-2053
Author(s):  
Huiping Li ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Bingzhi Dong

Abstract In this study, nanofiltration (NF) was used to further treat the water from the disinfection process of a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP). The results indicate that the NF process reduced the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 92.87%, UV absorbance at 254 nm (UVA254) by 88.68%, conductivity by 94% and total dissolved solids by 94.49%. The removal efficiencies of trihalomethanes (THMs), 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol (geosmin) were also evaluated for both the DWTP and NF treatment processes. High-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) analysis, three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis were applied to characterize the changes in different organic compounds in each process. A correlation analysis was carried out for samples of the raw water, feed water and permeate water to determine the correlations between the maximum fluorescence intensities (Fmax) of the PARAFAC components and the DOC, UVA254 and high specific UV absorbance (SUVA) of the samples. The results showed that a significant correlation (p < 0.01) existed between UVA254 and the Fmax of the three PARAFAC components as well as between DOC and Fmax.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 617-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linan Xing ◽  
Christopher W. K. Chow ◽  
Jiane Zuo ◽  
Dongsheng Wang ◽  
Rolando Fabris ◽  
...  

Understanding coagulation behaviour and treatability of waters impacted by algogenic organic matter (AOM) is important for waters with frequent algal blooms. Physico­­–chemical characteristics of AOM spiked into a water sample, before and after coagulation, were investigated using high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) with UV and fluorescence detection, three dimensional-fluorescence excitation emission matrix (3D-FEEM) measurement and resin fractionation in which three fractions were determined including very hydrophobic acid (VHA), slightly hydrophobic acid (SHA) and hydrophilic fractions. Release of AOM from algal cells with consequential increases in dissolved organic carbon and UV absorbance led to changes in 3D-FEEM spectra indicative of increased aromatic protein presence. Changes in disinfection by-product formation potential after the AOM spiking indicated possible interactions between natural organic matter and AOM. A study of the treatability of the AOM spiked water using two coagulants, alum and a polyaluminum composite coagulant, was conducted with the relative percentages of UV absorbance values of both the SHA and hydrophilic fractions higher in the post coagulated AOM spiked water than in the coagulated water, with corresponding reductions in the VHA proportion. It was found that the increased SHA and hydrophilic components in the AOM spiked natural water were recalcitrant to removal by both coagulants.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van Leeuwen ◽  
C. Chow ◽  
R. Fabris ◽  
N. Withers ◽  
D. Page ◽  
...  

To gain an improved understanding of the types of organic compounds that are recalcitrant to water treatment, natural organic matter (NOM) isolates from two drinking water sources (Mt. Zero and Moorabool reservoirs, Victoria, Australia) were separated into fractions of distinct chemical behaviour using resins. Four fractions were obtained from each water source and were organics absorbed to: (1) XAD-8 (very hydrophobic acids, VHA); (2) DAX-4 (slightly hydrophobic acids, SHA); (3) bound to an anion exchange resin (charged organics, CHAR); and (4) not absorbed or bound to resins (neutrals, NEUT). These fractions were then tested to determine the capacity of alum to remove them from water and to correlate this with the character of each isolate. The fractions were characterised by the application of high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), bacterial regrowth potential (BRP), trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP), pyrolysis gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and thermochemolysis. The highest removals of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by alum treatment were in waters spiked with the CHAR fractions while the NEUT fractions were the most recalcitrant. The number average molecular weights (Mn) of DOC of the CHAR fractions before treatment were the highest, whilst those of the NEUT fractions were the lowest. After alum treatment, the Mn of the NEUT fractions were only slightly reduced. Results from Py-GC-MS and thermochemolysis indicate that the NEUT fractions had the highest relative proportion of saccharide derived organic material. Nonetheless, the BRP of waters spiked with the NEUT fractions differed markedly, indicating that organics recalcitrant to alum treatment can vary substantially in their chemical composition and capacity to support microbial growth.


AMB Express ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam F. Suzuki ◽  
Larissa A. Almeida ◽  
Stephanie A. Pomin ◽  
Felipe D. Silva ◽  
Renan P. Freire ◽  
...  

AbstractThe human prolactin antagonist Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL is a 21.9 kDa recombinant protein with 188 amino acids that downregulates the proliferation of a variety of cells expressing prolactin receptors. Periplasmic expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli has been considered an option for obtaining a soluble and correctly folded protein, as an alternative to cytoplasmic production. The aim of this work was, therefore, to synthesize for the first time, the Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL antagonist, testing different activation temperatures and purifying it by classical chromatographic techniques. E. coli BL21(DE3) strain was transformed with a plasmid based on the pET25b( +) vector, DsbA signal sequence and the antagonist cDNA sequence. Different doses of IPTG were added, activating under different temperatures, and extracting the periplasmic fluid via osmotic shock. The best conditions were achieved by activating at 35 °C for 5 h using 0.4 mM IPTG, which gave a specific expression of 0.157 ± 0.015 μg/mL/A600 at a final optical density of 3.43 ± 0.13 A600. Purification was carried out by nickel-affinity chromatography followed by size-exclusion chromatography, quantification being performed via high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The prolactin antagonist was characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and MALDI-TOF–MS. The final product presented > 95% purity and its antagonistic effects were evaluated in vitro in view of potential clinical applications, including inhibition of the proliferation of cancer cells overexpressing the prolactin receptor and specific antidiabetic properties, taking also advantage of the fact that this antagonist was obtained in a soluble and correctly folded form and without an initial methionine.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Urška Jug ◽  
Katerina Naumoska ◽  
Irena Vovk

The antioxidant activities of Japanese knotweed rhizome bark extracts, prepared with eight different solvents or solvent mixtures (water, methanol, 80% methanol(aq), acetone, 70% acetone(aq), ethanol, 70% ethanol(aq), and 90% ethyl acetate(aq)), were determined using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging assay. Low half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values (2.632–3.720 µg mL−1) for all the extracts were in the range of the IC50 value of the known antioxidant ascorbic acid at t0 (3.115 µg mL−1). Due to the highest extraction yield (~44%), 70% ethanol(aq) was selected for the preparation of the extract for further investigations. The IC50 value calculated for its antioxidant activity remained stable for at least 14 days, while the IC50 of ascorbic acid increased over time. The stability study showed that the container material was of great importance for the light-protected storage of the ascorbic acid(aq) solution in a refrigerator. Size exclusion–high-performance liquid chromatography (SEC-HPLC)–UV and reversed phase (RP)-HPLC-UV coupled with multistage mass spectrometry (MSn) were developed for fractionation of the 70% ethanol(aq) extract and for further compound identification, respectively. In the most potent antioxidant SEC fraction, determined using an on-line post-column SEC-HPLC-DPPH assay, epicatechin, resveratrol malonyl hexoside, and its in-source fragments (resveratrol and resveratrol acetyl hexoside) were tentatively identified by RP-HPLC-MSn. Moreover, epicatechin was additionally confirmed by two orthogonal methods, SEC-HPLC-UV and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) coupled with densitometry. Finally, the latter technique enabled the identification of (−)-epicatechin. (−)-Epicatechin demonstrated potent and stable time-dependent antioxidant activity (IC50 value ~1.5 µg mL−1) for at least 14 days.


Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lulu Wu ◽  
Athanasios Mantas ◽  
Simon Gustafsson ◽  
Levon Manukyan ◽  
Albert Mihranyan

This study is dedicated to the rapid removal of protein aggregates and viruses from plasma-derived human serum albumin (HSA) product to reduce the risk of viral contamination and increase biosafety. A two-step filtration approach was implemented to first remove HSA aggregates and then achieve high model virus clearance using a nanocellulose-based filter paper of different thicknesses, i.e., 11 μm (prefilter) and 22 μm (virus filter) at pH 7.4 and room temperature. The pore size distribution of these filters was characterized by nitrogen gas sorption analysis. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) were performed to analyze the presence of HSA aggregates in process intermediates. The virus filter showed high clearance of a small-size model virus, i.e., log10 reduction value (LRV) > 5, when operated at 3 and 5 bar, but a distinct decrease in LRV was detected at 1 bar, i.e., LRV 2.65–3.75. The throughput of HSA was also dependent on applied transmembrane pressure as was seen by Vmax values of 110 ± 2.5 L m−2 and 63.6 ± 5.8 L m−2 at 3 bar and 5 bar, respectively. Protein loss was low, i.e., recovery > 90%. A distribution of pore sizes between 40 nm and 60 nm, which was present in the prefilter and absent in the virus filter, played a crucial part in removing the HSA aggregates and minimizing the risk of virus filter fouling. The presented results enable the application of virus removal nanofiltration of HSA in bioprocessing as an alternative to virus inactivation methods based, e.g., on heat treatment.


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