Role of hypobromous acid in the transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during chlorination

Hypobromous acid (HOBr), a highly reactive active species, can be formed and impact reaction processes with organic pollutants in source water during chlorination disinfection of the water containing bromide (Br-). In this study, we investigated the transformation kinetics of 10 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and formation mechanisms of transformation products in the presence of Br- during chlorination. The results indicated that HOBr can accelerate the processes of electrophilic substitution (ES) and single electron transfer (ET) reactions in PAHs, and the second-order rate constants of HOBr are 10²-10³ times higher than those of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) with PAHs. HOBr was more conductive to induce ES reactions than HOCl. In water containing Br-, HOBr and HOCl dominate the reaction processes with PAHs, although other active bromine species may still affect reaction processes. In terms of transformation products, higher reactivity of HOBr results from faster formation of oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs) and halogenated PAHs (HPAHs) than HOCl. As an example of 3 model PAHs, anthracene transforms faster to its oxygenated products at a higher concentration, while pyrene and fluorene transform faster to halogenated products. These fundamental results were essential to understanding the transformation kinetics of PAHs and the formation of toxic disinfection by-products in the presence of Br-.