IOA News – Minimizing Bromate Formation

 

It did not take long for me as someone new to the ozone industry to target Bromate formation as one of the big challenges of water treatment for drinking.   We can use ozone to remove multiple toxic pollutants, but in the process run the risk of forming a new one that is challenging to remove.  I came to the IOA conference with some questions in the back of my mind and was glad for the opportunity to attend the workshop on “Bromate Formation and Minimization Strategies”  by Eric Wert.  Bromates are toxic chemical compounds formed in the chemical reaction between bromides and ozone and other oxidizing agents used to treat water.  Ozone is very useful for many components of water treatment for drinking water, but the side effect of bromate formation is a problem that needs to be addressed.  Bromides are naturally found in the water supplies we use for drinking water and the levels are increased in wastewater as a byproduct of the chemical industry, waste incinerators, and fire retardants.  The chemical formation mechanism for bromate is complex but offers some clues for ozone treatment methods that minimize the formation of bromates.  Since the chemical reaction that forms bromates is complex and relatively lengthy, reducing the contact time of bromides with ozone to 3 seconds or less will result in less bromate formation in a side-stream ozone injection system.

 

The problem of bromates in drinking water will continue to be a problem in the foreseeable future.  We can continue to work at solutions by sharing knowledge and creative strategies for keeping our water clean and healthy.

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