Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

A Facile and Efficient Approach for the Production of Reversible Disulfide Cross-linked Micelles
Published on: December 23, 2016
Contaminants migrating from crossed-linked polyethylene pipes and their effect on drinking water odour
Cynthia Kalweit1, Ernst Stottmeister1, Thomas Rapp1
1Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency), Heinrich-Heine-Str. 12, 08645 Bad Elster, Germany.
Abstract:
The formation potential of contaminants diffusing from cross-linked polyethylene (PE-X) pipes and their impact on the odour of drinking water was determined. Three types of PE-X material, Pe-Xa, PE-Xb and PE-Xc, were extensively assessed by performing migration tests following EN 1420 and EN 12873-1. Migration waters were analysed for their threshold odour number (TON). The same samples were investigated by two gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods: screening and olfactometry. Most of the PE-X materials failed the German regulation of TON <2 for cold water and TON ≤4 for warm water. PE-Xb material caused the strongest odour and also released the highest amount of contaminants. Metilox, 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro(4,5)deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (2,6-DtBQ) were the most often detected substances leaching from the tested plastic materials. However, no odour was perceived for most of these substances. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) and 2-tert-butylphenol are believed to contribute to the sensory problem in the migration water among other substances such as tert-amyl methyl ether, 2,2,2,5-tetramethyltetrahydrofuran, toluene or xylene. In total ten specific descriptions characterized the odour of the individual contaminants: ethereal, fresh, solvent, sweet, fruity, floral, unsavoury, pungent, aromatic and chemical.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Crossing Over
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process...
General Characteristics of Pipe Flow I
The classification of fluid...
Major Losses in Pipes
Fluid flow can be classified as laminar or turbulent, primarily based on the Reynolds number. This dimensionless number reflects the relative influence of inertial to viscous...
Minor Losses in Pipes
Valves play a significant role in generating minor losses by obstructing or redirecting the fluid flow. When a valve is closed or partially closed, it restricts the flow...
Contaminants and Errors
Another key consideration is determining the appropriate number of samples required to...
Single Pipe Systems
In a Type I problem, fluid properties (density and viscosity), pipe characteristics (including diameter, length, and surface roughness), and the flow rate or average velocity are...

