Reduction of chloroform formation potential of humic acid by sonolysis and ultraviolet irradiation

This study is concerned with the changes of chloroform formation potential during the reaction of humic acid (HA) and sodium hypochlorite caused by different oxidative pretreatments: ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, ultrasonic (US) irradiation or combined UV–US irradiations. The UV and US decomposition of a reagent HA in water was investigated. The characterization of the oxidized HA sample by UV absorptiometry, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography points a synergetic effect of the combined process. The values of the chlorine demand and chloroform formation potential were conventionally determined after a 96 h reaction at neutral pH. It was found that all applied processes decreased the concentration of chloroform but the highest decrease was observed for the UV–US treatment.