DISINFECTION OF WATER

PRESENTED BY
SANTHOSHI CH.
SIMANTINI C.
SRILEKHA V.
SWATI B
INTRODUCTION
When water comes out of filter plants it may still contain

1. Micro-organisms (some of which may be pathogenic)

2. Bacteria
3. Dissolved inorganic salts
4. Colour, odour and taste
5. Iron and manganese.

Hence in order to remove them from water we need to

do disinfection
DISINFECTION
Water disinfection means the removal,
deactivation or killing of pathogenic
microorganisms
Not a substitute of filtration
Different from sterlization
Usually requires complicated mechanisms
that need the attention of skilled operators to
avoid breakdown and incorrect dosage
DISINFECTANT
Substance used for disinfection of water.
The following criteria should be met by the
disinfectants
1. Should be effective in killing the micro-
organisms potentially present in water
within the contact time available, range of
water temperature encountered and
anticipated fluctuations in composition,
concentration and condition of water
being treated.
2. Should be readily available at reasonable
3. Should be safe to handle and method of
application should be easy.
4. Should not render the water toxic,
unpalatable or objectionable for its intended
use.
5. Should have the ability to persist in residual
concentration as a safeguard against
recontamination
MECHANISM OF DISINFECTION
Damage to cell wall of micro-organisms
Alteration of cell permeability
Changing the colloidal nature of cell
proplasm
Inactivation of critical enzyme system
responsible for metabolic activities.
METHODS OF DISINFECTION
PHYSICAL CHEMICAL
METHODS METHODS
1. Disinfection by 1. Oxidising
heat chemicals
2. Disinfection by 2. Metal ions
light
3. Alkalis and acids
4. Surface active
Among all the methods mentioned
chemicalsabove
chlorination is the most commonly adopted.
Hence in water works practice the term
chlorination is used in place of disinfection
1. Disinfection by heat
 This is done by boiling the water.
 This method is most effective in complete
sterlization of water
 Not suitable for public water supplies
 This is a minor method of disinfection

2. Disinfection by light
 Sunlight is a natural disinfectant
 Irradiation by ultraviolet rays intensifies
disinfection
ULTRA VIOLET RAY METHOD
Effective method for sterlization of water as light is
effective in killing both active bacteria as well as
spores
Sun is the main source of UV rays but require large
exposure area and long time
Hence they are generated by machines consisting of
mercury vapour lamps enclosed in a quartz globe.
For disinfection to be effective, water should flow in
a thin clear film close to the sterlizing ray.
Depth of water <10cm, water should be colourless
and turbidity should not be more than 15 to 20 ppm.
Method is costly and commonly used for private
bldg, institutions and particularly swimming pools
etc.,.
 3 DISINFECTION BY METAL IONS
 Includes silver and copper ions
Silver Treatment
 Water is disinfected with silver by electro-
catadynic action or Oligodynamic action
 Silver when immersed in water exerts an
inhibiting action on bacterial life.
 This method is costly and used in small
installations or private individual houses.
RELEASE
DEPOSITED BACTERIA MINUTE
Au 10min-
ON LADEN QTIES OF
or 60min
PARTICLES WATER + SILVER(20-40
SILVE Pd contac
OF SILVER ppb)WHICH
R t time
GRANULATE IMPREGNAT SERVES AS
IONS
D ACTIVE ED CARBON DISINFECTAN
CARBON T
4.DISINFECTION BY ALKALIS AND ACIDS
 Pathogenic bacteria do not last long in
highly alkaline (pH>11)or highly acidic
(pH<3)waters.
Excess lime treatment
 It was found that when pH>9.5 E-coli
bacteria present in water will die.
 Enough lime is added to bring the pH >9
where sterlization of E-coli and other
bacteria takes place.
 Necessary lime dose is between 10ppm-
20ppmof calcium oxide.
 Excess lime in water after disinfection has
to be removed before supplying it to the
5. DISINFECTION BY SURFACE ACTIVE
CHEMICALS
Among surfactants, the cationic detergents
are only weakly destructive.
The neutral detergents occupy an
intermediate position
6. DISINFECTION BY OXIDISING
CHEMICALS
They comprise of
 The halogens- chlorine, bromine and iodine
 Ozone and
 Other oxidants such as potassium
permanganate and hydrogen peroxide.
.
Potassium permanganate treatment
 Mostly used in rural areas where water
supplies are from wells
 KMnO4 dissolved in a bucket of well water,
and a bucket full of this water is mixed with
well water thoroughly
 It kills the bacteria also oxidises the taste
producing organic matter
 Normal dose of KMnO4 varies from 1-2 mg/l
with a contact period of 4hr to 6hr.
 Water should not be used for first 48 hrs of
addition of KMnO4 to it.
Chlorination
Chlorination is the process of
adding chlorine to drinking water to disinfect it
and kill germs.
Enzymatic Hypothesis
Disinfectant proceeds in 2 stages
 Penetrates through the cell wall
 Reacts with the enzymes

Different processes can be used to achieve safe

levels of chlorine in drinking water.
Chlorine is added to the water supply in two
ways.
1. Gas- Cl2(g)
2. As a Salt
Chlorine Chemistry:
Chlorine gas dissolves in water following
Henry's Law.
Cl2(g) Cl 2(aq)

Once dissolved, the following reaction occurs

forming hypochlorous acid (HOCl):
Cl2(aq)+ H2O HOCl + H + + Cl-

Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid that

dissociates to form hypochlorite ion (OCl-).
HOCl OCl- + H+
Contd..
•It is the hypochlorous
acid and the hypochlorite
ions which accomplish
disinfection

•Thus, when chlorine is

added to water, all these 3
are formed and remain in
equilibrium at different
concentrations depending
upon pH of water which
controls the amount of
dissociation.

•They are defined as the

Hypochlorite salt reactions in water:
OCl− + H2O ⇌ HOCl + OH−
NaOCl + H2O ⇌ HOCl + NaOH
Ca(OCl )2+ H2O ⇌ HOCl + Ca(OH)2

Ph>= 10(HOCl<ClO −)
Reduces the germicidal efficiency.
But more rapidly inactivated Poliovirus.
 Chlorine Dosage
The amount of chlorine consumed in the oxidation
of the organic as well as inorganic impurities,
before any disinfection is achieved .
After the chlorine demand is fulfilled, chlorine will
appear as free available residual chlorine.
The free available residual chlorine will then serve
as disinfectant to kill the pathogens present in
water.
Required Chlorine Dose (mg/L) = Chlorine Demand (mg/L) +
Desired Residual Chlorine (mg/L)

Free available residual chlorine about 0.2 mg/l.

Chlorine reactions in drinking-water

Chlorine Dose
Amount of chlorine added to the
water

Chlorine Demand
Chlorine consumed during
reaction with organic and
inorganic material present

Total Chlorine
Chlorine used for chlorine demand and
free residual chlorine

Residual Chlorine Combined chlorine

Free chlorine available for Chlorine bound to organic and
disinfection (may prevent nitrogen compounds (weak
SEWAGE
recontamination of water) disinfection capacity)
WATERWAYS
22
Forms of application of chlorine:
1. Bleaching powder or hypochlorite
2. Chloramines
3. Free chlorine gas
4. Chlorine dioxide
Bleaching powder
Also known as chlorinated lime is a yellowish-
white powder easily soluble in water.
331/3% of available chlorine when freshly made.
Loses its strength during storage or exposure of air.
Small installations are under emergency conditions.
Hypochlorination
High Test Hypochlorite(HTH) - 65-70% available chlorine
Stable, easily soluble, free flowing and non hygroscopic
Pittchlor
Pitticide
Hoodchlor
Hypo chlorination
Chloramines
Chloramines are the compounds of ammonia and
chlorine
Produces more stable disinfecting residual than
produced by chlorine alone.
1 part of ammonia to 4.5 parts of chlorine by weight.
Cl2(aq)+H2O HOCl + HCl
HOCl +NH3 NH2Cl + H2O
HOCl +NH2Cl NHCl2 + H2O
HOCl +NHCl2 NCl3 + H2O
Mixed 20 min to 1hr after application- diffuse.
2 hrs contact period.
Advantages of chloramine in treatment
More effective than chlorine.
Bactericidal effects persists for a longer
duration.
Prevents bad taste and order.
Quantity of chlorine required becomes less, if
organic matter is present in large quantities.
Less irritation to nose and eyes- swimming
poools
No danger of overdose.
Free chlorine(gaseous/liquid form)
2.48 more heavier than air
1.44 times heavier than water
Unconfined liquid chlorine rapidly vaporizes to
gas- 7 kg/cm2
Stored under 10.5 kg/cm2
Liquid form is highly corrosive-
Cylinders-special fittings, Withstand -35kg/cm 2 ,
190oC
Dangerous compounds may be formed when
chlorine comes in contact with other gases.
Cool and well ventilated room.
Chlorine dosage depends upon the following
factors
1. Organic matter present in the water to be
disinfected
2. PH value of water
3. Amount of carbon dioxide present in water
4. Temperature
5. Time of contact
Chlorine dioxide(ClO2)
NaClO2 + Cl2 ⇌ ClO2 + 2NaCl
Limited to special water treatment applications
such as oxidation of iron, manganese, phenolic and
chlorophenol compounds for control of algae.
2.5 times the oxidising power of chlorine
Does not react with organic materials to produce
chloroform, a potential carcinogen.
Entirely harmless in aqueous solution
Dosage : 0.5- 1.5 ppm
Action is unaffected by pH values between 6 to 10.
High cost of production and application.
Application of chlorine
Two methods of application of chlorine.
1. Chlorine gas my be fed directly to the point
of application to the water supply.
2. Gas may be first dissolved in small flow of
water and the solution is then fed to the
point of application
At the temperature below 10 degree
centigrade crystalline hydrates of ice of
chlorine gas are formed.
Choking of pipes.
Chlorinator
A satisfactory chlorinator should be able to
feed chlorine at the desired rate irrespective
of the changes in the pressure in supply
cylinder.
FORMS OF CHLORINATION
Plain chlorination
Pre-chlorination
Post-chlorination
Double or multiple chlorination
Break point chlorination
Super chlorination
De-chlorination.
PLAIN CHLORINATION
Plain chlorination is the application of chlorine to raw
water supply before it enters into distribution system.
Sometimes added to reservoirs to check growth of
weeds ,organic matter and algae etc.
It can be practiced for water with turbidities less than 20
to 30 ppm.
Normal dose range 0.5 to 1 ppm.
PRE-CHLORINATION
Chlorine is applied before treatment specially before
filtration.
Sometimes added before sedimentation.
Dose of chlorine should be so adjusted that water has a
chlorine residual of 0.1to 0.5ppm.
ADVANTAGES
It reduces the quantity of coagulants required.
Reduces bacterial load on filters.
Controls growth of algae
Eliminates tastes and odour.
POST CHLORINATION
Addition of chlorine after treatment i.e after filtration.
Added before water enters into distribution system.
Dose of chlorine should be adjusted such that residual
chlorine is about 0.1 to 0.2 ppm.
DOUBLE CHLORINATION
Application of chlorine at two or more points in
purification process.
Usually added-
1)Just before water enters the sedimentation tanks.
2)After filtration.
This is done if water is more contaminated.
BREAK POINT CHLORINATION
. It is a term which gives an idea of the extent of chlorine
added to the water . It represents , that much dose of
chlorination ,beyond which any further addition of chlorine
will appear as free residual chlorine
. When chlorine is added to water, first performs the function
of removing bacteria . During the disinfection process ,the
amount of residual chlorine will be less in the beginning
(marked by stage 1),during which various chemicals such as
ions of ferrous iron , sulphides or nitrites will be oxidised.
.During stage 2 chlorine react with ammonia
present in waters to form chloramines . If the
residual chlorine is tested at this stage then it
can be seen that the amount of residual chlorine
keeps on increasing (denoted by AB).
.If the chlorine is further added beyond point B ,
the organic matter present in waters get
oxidised and hence the residual chlorine content
suddenly falls down as shown in curve (BC).At
point B where oxidation of organic matter starts
it gives a bad smell and taste which disappears
at Break point(c).
The point C is the point beyond which any further
addition of chlorine will appear equally as free
chlorine , nothing of it will be utilised . The point
C is called as break point as any amount of
chlorine added beyond this point will appear as
residual chlorine.
ADVANTAGES
It will remove taste and odour.
It will have adequate residual chlorine.
It will leave a desired chlorine residual.
It will complete the oxidation of ammonia and
other compounds
It will remove colour due to organic matter by
about 30% and
It will remove manganese.
 SUPER CHLORINATION
. Super chlorination is the application of chlorine beyond the
stage of break point.
. It is done after filtration with contact time of 30 to 60 mins.
. The quantity of chlorine added in this process is such as to
give about 1 to 3mg/l of residue beyond the break point ,in the
treated water.
. It is adopted when there is an epidemic in the society .
DE-CHLORINATION
Process of removing excess chlorine from water
before distribution to the consumers to avoid
chlorine tastes.
Can be achieved by aeration or using chemicals
such as sodium thio-sulphate , sodium bi
sulphate , sodium sulphite , activated carbon ,
potassium permanganate.
 Tests for free and combined chlorine :
.The following two tests are usually employed
1) Orthotolidine test : orthotolidine is a colourless
organic liquid that is oxidized by chlorine into a yellow
coloured compound called holoquinone.
Orthotolidine + chlorine =Holoquinone
Water sample is collected after 10mins of chlorine dose and 1ml
of orthotolidine solution is added to 100ml of sample ,in a
glass tube . The degree of yellowness which develops will be
proportional to the concentration of chlorine residual.
The deeper the colour ,the greater will be the
amount of residual chlorine . Rapid and accurate
determination of free chlorine is usually made
with the help of a chloroscope . The triple cell of
the chloroscope is filled with water sample up to
the mark and orthotolidine solution is added by
means of marked pipette . The colour so formed
is matched with the standard coloured disc
provided with the instrument.
 When the water is highly alkaline ,a blue tinge is formed
instead of a yellow one .In that case , the quantity of
orthotolidine to be added is doubled.
If chlorine has been used as the disinfecting agent ,colour
should be observed after 5 min of addition of orthotolidine ,
while if chloramine is used as disinfecting material , colour
should be observed 15 min after orthotolidine is added . The
test should be conducted at room temperature.
FACTORS AFFECTING
CHLORINATION
TURBIDITY :
. The effect of turbidity in water is to make difficult to
obtain free residual chlorine.
. Also ,the penetration of chlorine and destruction of bacteria
in particles of suspended matter of a turbid water may be
very uncertain.
. Due to this reason ,the application of chlorine is preferred
after filtration when water is free from turbidity.
Presence of metallic compounds :
. Fe and Mn consumes more chlorine if present in water.
. So , chlorine is added when Fe and Mn are removed from
water.
. Ammonia compounds :
. Ammonia forms combined chlorine compounds
which are not so powerful disinfectants compared to free
available chlorine.
. Therefore more chlorine is added so that after formation of
chloramines ,excess free chlorine is available for speedy
disinfection.
pH of water :
Increasing pH reduces effectiveness of chlorine.

pH of Amount of HOCL
water
Up to 6.7 95% of total free chlorine

At 7 80% of total free chlorine

At 8 30% of total free chlorine
At 9 5% of total free chlorine
Temperature of water :
Reduction in temperature decreases killing power of
both free and combined available chlorine.
. Time of contact :
Percent kill of pathogens depend upon time of contact
between chlorine and micro-organisms.
. Time of exposure or time of contact is needed.
For disinfection by free chlorine acting in clear water , a
theoretical contact time of 20mins is required , while it is
60mins for combined chlorine.
KINETICS OF CHEMICAL DISINFECTION:
IDEAL CONDITIONS:
The following ideal conditions are assumed:
• All cells of a single species of organisms are discrete units
which are equally susceptible to a single species of
disinfectant.
• Both the cells as well as disinfectants are uniformly dispersed
in water.
• During period of contact, the disinfectant stays unchanged in
chemical composition and constant in concentration.
• Water contains no interfering substances.

VARIABLES AFFECTING DISINFECTION

Disinfection is a function of the following variables:
• Time of contact
• Concentration of disinfectant
• Concentration of organisms
TIME OF CONTACT:
Chick’s law states that the number of organisms (y) destroyed in
unit time is proportional to the number of organisms remaining (N)
at that instant of time.

Integrating this equation we get,

Where, N = number of organisms remaining after any time

duration “t”
= initial number of organisms present
CONCENTRATION OF DISINFECTANT:
For changing concentrations of disinfectant, the disinfecting
efficiency can be expressed by

Where, C = concentration of the disinfectant

n = coefficient of dilution, which is a measure of the
order of reaction
contact time

When n > 1, efficiency of disinfectant decreases rapidly as it is

diluted
n<1, time of contact is more important than dosage
n = 1 concentration and time are of equal weightage and
a first order reaction maybe under progress.
CONCENTRATION OF ORGANISMS:

The effect of concentration of organisms or the number of

organisms can be expressed by the following observational
equation:

Where, = concentration of disinfectant

q = coefficient of disinfectant
strength
= concentration of organisms that is remaining after a given
time.
RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMPONENTS OF FREE
AVAILABLE CHLORINE:

We have seen that when chlorine in the form of gas is added to

water, hydrolysis and ionization takes place.

Hydrolysis

ionization

Ionization constant for above reaction:

Formation of these two components is governed by pH.

When pH < 7.5 >

When pH > 7.5 <

The killing efficiency of is nearly 40 to 80 times higher than .

 Concentration of HOCl = dose x

Therefore at any given temperature and pH of the

water to be treated, the required chlorine dose based
on the required HOCl concentration for disinfection
can be calculated.

For example:

pH K dose
(mols/lit) (mg/l)
7 2.7 x 10-8 78.7 0.6
8 2.7 x 10-8 27 1.75
 IODINE
TREATMENT
REACTIONS:

 (formation of hypoiodous acid (HIO))

 (formation of hypoiodite ion at pH>4)

(At pH values above 8, HIO is
unstable and will not form the
hypoiodite ion but will
decompose, resulting in the
formation of iodide and iodate)

As the pH increases from 6 to 8, the percentage of iodine as

decreases while the % of iodine as HIO is increased.
• Hypoiodous acid formed at higher pH values is found to be
less bactericidal than free iodine,

• 99.99% kill of most resistant of 6 of bacterial strains tested

could be achieved in 5 minutes with free iodine residual of
1.0mg/l.

• Rapid ( 5-10 minutes) destruction of cysts with iodine

concentration of 5 – 10 mg/l have been reported for several
cysts in neutral waters.

• Hypoiodous acid (HIO) destroys viruses at a rate

considerably faster than that achieved by I2
DISADVANTAGES:
 Some concern has arisen over possible harmful
affects of iodinated water over thyroid function
Objectionable taste and odour
High cost, restricted availability

USE:
Use of iodine is presently limited to small water
supplies, swimming pools or army troops etc.
BROMINE TREATMENT
Bromine hydrolyses in water to hypobromous
acid (HOBr) and bromide.
Bromine is an excellent primary disinfectant
similar to chlorine.
It is used usually in swimming pools, spas and
cooling towers.
It is especially effective in the presence of
ammonia such as sewage because its bromamines
(NH2Br + NHBr2+ NBr3) are much more potent
disinfectants than the analogous chloramines.
Bromamines’ disinfection efficacy is much greater than
chloramines’ (combined chlorine) because their
hydrolysis equilibrium in water favors hypobromous
acid (HOBr), whereas chloramine hydrolysis produces only
a small amount of hypochlorous acid (HOCl).

Bromine is also more biocidal at higher pHs than chlorine

because HOBr ionizes to a lesser degree than HOCl at pH
8.7.

General relative disinfection potencies at equivalent doses

are: HOCl ~ HOBr ~ NHxBry >> OCl– > OBr– >> NHxCly.

Like chlorine, bromine will produce disinfection

byproducts (DBPs) in water by reactions with the organic
carbon precursors that are present
OZONE TREATMENT(OZONATION)
Nascent oxygen is very powerful in killing
bacteria
Ozone is unstable, it cannot be stored, and
has to be produced at the point of use by
passing dry air or oxygen through an
electric field (corona) to covert O2 to O3.
The ozone is introduced into water by
injecting or diffusing it into a mixing
chamber.
Dosage of 0.2ppm to 0.3ppm is sufficient to
kill all coliform bacteria in clean water if it is
free of all oxidisable materials.
For municipal water treatment purposes
dosage of 1.5ppm is used.
ADVANTAGES :
1. More powerful disinfectant, more effective
in killing organisms and inactivating the
virus than chlorine.
2. There is no danger of over treatment as
ozone decomposes into oxygen
3. Disinfecting action effective over wide range
of temperature and pH range.
4. Short contact periods are required.
5. No transport and storage problems.
6. Effectively reduces colour, taste, odour from
water.
DISADVANTAGES
More expensive than chlorine
Leaves no lasting residue to prevent
recontamination
Production of ozone is complicated when
temperature and humidity are high.
As it must be produced electrically, it is
difficult to adjust treatment to variations in
load, or to changes in water quality with
regard to ozone demand.
THANK YOU