Factors on the formation of strong mutagen [3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone] MX by chlorination of syringaldehyde

Syringaldehyde (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde) was chlorinated in the laboratory at different reaction time, temperature, pH and chlorine dose, and MX was determined and quantified by GC/MS. The finding suggests that the optimal chlorination conditions are as follows: TEMPERATURE=298 K, pH=5, Cl:syrin. (mol:mol)=9:1. We also found that the formation of MX increased with the syringaldehyde concentration in a linear relationship. In addition, when syringaldehyde was chlorinated with a different chlorine dose in an alkaline condition, no MX was detected. This study will conduce to elucidating the kinetic process for the formation of MX from syringaldehyde and will be of great help for better control of MX in drinking water.