This is an award to support research on identification and quantification of chemical reaction products when chlorine is used to disinfect wastewater treatment plant effluents. This project is a renewal of research conducted under NSF Grant No. 90- 02442. Special emphasis in this research is on reactions between nitrogenous organic compounds such as the amino acids and peptides that are found in treatment plant effluents. The investigator plans on using radiotracer techniques to determine the stability and breakdown products of the chlorinated organic compounds. Chlorination of wastewater treatment plant effluents is a process relied on for disinfection of the effluents prior to their placement into environmental waters despite the known formation of chlorinated organic compounds that subject the environment and subsequent users of those waters to potential health risk. Results of this project are expected to provide the basis for any changes that may be necessary in use of and in the engineering design of chlorination processes to avoid or eliminate negative effects associated with this practice.
