Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
Published on: January 7, 2019
Formation of organic by-products during chlorination of natural waters
Anastasia D Nikolaou1, Spyros K Golfinopoulos, Themistokles D Lekkas
1Department of Environmental Studies, University of the Aegean, Karadoni 17, 81100 Mytilene, Greece. nnikol@aegean.gr
Abstract:
Natural water from six sources in Mytilene, Greece, was chlorinated in order to identify and quantify some of the organic by-products formed. The compounds examined were trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, haloacetonitriles, haloketones, chloral hydrate and chloropicrin. The factors tested were time and chlorine dose. The presence of bromide ion in some of the waters studied resulted in significant changes in the by-product speciation, with enhanced brominated species formation. In addition, UV absorbance, measured at three wavelengths, led to correlation of organic matter content with the concentrations of by-products produced. The species formed, varying among different water sources, increased with increasing chlorine dose. Most of the species also increased with increasing contact time, although there were some exceptions due to hydrolysis reactions.
Related Concept Videos
Carboxylic Acids to Acid Chlorides
Hydrolysis of Chlorobenzene to Phenol: Dow Process
Formation of Halohydrin from Alkenes
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Multiple Halogenation of Methyl Ketones: Haloform Reaction
Radical Substitution: Halogenation of Alkanes and Alkyl Substituents
In the initiation step of the reaction, the chlorine molecule undergoes homolytic cleavage in the presence of light or heat, forming two highly reactive chlorine radicals. Propagation occurs in two...

