Abstract
The formation of trihalomethane (THM) from 37 organohalogen compounds, disinfection by-products, was measured by the headspace-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. Among these 37 organohalogen compounds, 10, including trichloroacetones, trihaloacetonitriles and trihaloacetic acids, produced THMs upon heating of aqueous solutions at 60°C for 30 min in a headspace sampler. The amounts and composition of THMs produced by heating depended on the position and number of the bound chlorine or bromine. In addition, the production of THMs from some of the organohalogen compounds upon heating was strongly affected by pH, temperature and heating duration. These results suggest that the headspace-GC/MS method overestimates the net concentration of THM due to positive errors.
