This thesis presents a study of antioxidant depletion in water containing chlorinated species (water containing 10 ppm either Cl2 or ClO2, buffered to pH = 6.8), the degradation products in the aqueous phase, and polyethylene pipe degradation scenarios. A low molecular weight hydrocarbon analogue (squalane) was used instead of solid polyethylene as the host material for the antioxidants, and the depletion of antioxidants has been studied. The phenolic antioxidant Irganox 1010 was consumed ca. 4 times faster in water containing 10 ppm ClO2 than in water containing 10 ppm Cl2. The different degradation products in extracts from the aqueous phase identified by infrared, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed the different degradation mechanisms between ClO2 (" cleavage) and Cl2 (hydrogen substitution). The squalane test shows no energy barrier between 30 and 70 °C, and the activation energy of the antioxidant in solid PE was found to be ca. 21 kJ mol-1. A linear relationship has been established between the time to reach antioxidant depletion in the polyethylene tape samples and the time to reach depletion in samples based on squalane containing the same antioxidants. The surface oxidation and surface embrittlement of PE tape on long time exposure have been studied by IR and SEM. Pressure testing on medium density PE pipes with a controlled pH aqueous media (6.8 ± 0.2) containing 4 ppm either ClO2 or at 90 °C showed that the stabilizers were rapidly consumed towards the inner pipe wall and the rate of consumption in ClO2 was 4 times greater than in Cl2 solution. The subsequent polymer degradation was an immediate surface reaction. It was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography that, in the surface layer which came into contact with the oxidizing medium, the amorphous component of the polymer was heavily oxidized leaving a highly crystalline powder with many carboxylic acid chain ends in extended and once-folded chains. / <p>QC 20130122</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-161).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-133). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-101). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 1931. / "Reprinted from Physical review, vol. 44, no. 5, September 1, 1933."

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 1931. / "Reprinted from Physical review, vol. 44, no. 5, September 1, 1933."

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-101). Also available on the Internet.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) was included in the Spring Hollow Water Treatment Plant (Roanoke County, Virginia) to oxidize manganese and iron, prevent tastes and odors, and avoid the formation of excessive halogenated disinfection by-products. A state-of-the-art, gas:solid ClO₂ generation system manufactured by CDG Technology, Inc. was installed at the plant and is the first full-scale use of this technology in the world. The ClO₂ generator produces a feed stream free of chlorine, chlorite ion (ClO₂⁻), and chlorate ion (ClO₃⁻), resulting in lower by-product concentrations in the treatment system The objectives of this project were to study ClO₂ persistence and by-product concentrations throughout the treatment plant and distribution system and to evaluate granular activated carbon (GAC) columns for removing ClO₂⁻ from the finished water. The ClO₂ dosages applied during this study were relatively low (<0.75 mg/L), and, as a result, ClO₂⁻ concentrations never approached the maximum contaminant level (MCL) (1.0 mg/L). Likewise, the plant effluent ClO₂ concentration never approached the maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) (0.80 mg/L), but concentrations as high as 0.15 mg/L reformed in the distribution system by ClO₂⁻ reaction with chlorine. Chlorate ion was monitored despite the fact that no ClO₃⁻ MCL has been proposed, and concentrations were quite low (never greater than 0.10 mg/L) throughout the treatment plant and in the distribution system. The reasons for the low concentrations are that ClO₃⁻ is not produced by the gas-solid generator used at the facility and ClO₂⁻ concentrations in the clearwell prior to chlorination were uniformly low. The average ClO₂⁻ reduction upon passage of treated water through the GAC contactor was approximately 64 percent, but the GAC effectiveness was declining over the six-month study period. Apparently, GAC effectiveness, as shown by others, is short-lived, and if higher ClO₂ dosages are ever applied at the Roanoke County facility, the ClO₂⁻ concentrations will have to be reduced by either ferrous coagulants or reduced-sulfur compounds. Regenerated ClO₂ concentrations in the distribution system were below 0.2 mg/L, but concentrations as low as 0.03 mg/L were found at homes of customers who complained of odors. During this study, twelve complaints were received from eight customers, and each complainant had recently installed new carpeting, which has been shown to contribute volatile organics that react with ClO₂ to produce odors similar to kerosene and cat urine. While meeting the Cl₂ MCL likely will be no problem if the ClO₂ dose at the plant remains below 1.0 mg/L, the problem of offensive odors in the distribution system will likely continue as long as any ClO₂ is in the finished water when chlorine is present. / Master of Science

Four commercially available methods used for the analysis of low-level Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) concentrations in drinking water were evaluated for accuracy and precision and ranked according to cost, efficiency and ease of the methods under several conditions that might be encountered at water treatment plants. The different analytical methods included: 1.The DPD (N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine) method 2.Lissamine Green B (LGB) wet-chemical method 3.Palintest® kit LGB 4.Amperometric titration All these tests were performed with standard 1.0 mg/L ClO2 either alone or in the presence of different chlorine species, including chlorite ion (ClO2-, 0.5 mg/L), chlorate ion (ClO3-, 0.5 mg/L) and chlorine (Cl2, 1.0 mg/L). The tests were performed with four different matrices, with different concentrations of 0.1 mg/L ClO2, 0.5 mg/L ClO2 and 1.0 mg/L ClO2 at a constant temperature of 20oC and at different temperatures of 0oC, 10oC and 20oC at a fixed ClO2 concentration of 1.0 mg/L. None of the four methods produced the desired level of either accuracy or precision. For all four methods, interference to the measured ClO2 concentration from the addition of ClO2-, ClO3-, and Cl2 was minimal when the methods were performed according to specifications. The Palintest® was the best all-round method because it was easy to perform, performed well at all concentrations tested, and its colored product was stable. The HACH® DPD method was also easy to perform and gave the best results when measuring concentrations of 1.0 mg/L ClO2. The DPD method was less accurate than the Palintest® at lower concentrations. The DPD colored product that formed upon reaction of ClO2 and DPD was unstable, making it necessary to measure the intensity of the colored product at exactly 1 minute. The amperometric titration and lissamine green methods were more cumbersome and time-consuming to perform than either the DPD or Palintest® methods; for this reason they are less desirable for routine use. / Master of Science

In an effort to maintain compliance with current and future United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations governing haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs), the Blacksburg, Christiansburg, VPI (BCVPI) Water Authority in Radford, Virginia elected to eliminate prechlorination and replace it with preoxidation using chlorine dioxide (ClO2). Prior to full-scale application at the BCVPI Water Treatment Plant, jar testing was done to determine the effects of ClO2 on the formation of HAAs and THMs. Jar testing results showed a significant reduction in THM formation potential when 2.0 mg/L ClO2 was applied to raw water and chlorination was delayed. Chlorine dioxide doses less than 2.0 mg/L were statistically insignificant in the reduction of THM formation potentials below samples that were prechlorinated according to the BCVPI Water Treatment Plant's current practice. Likewise, ClO2 did not alter HAA formation potentials in such a way that statistical differences could be detected between ClO2 pretreatment and prechlorination, even at a dose of 2.0 mg/L ClO2. The two inorganic byproducts of ClO2, chlorite and chlorate, were also measured following jar tests. Chlorite concentrations increased with an increased ClO2 dose, but remained below 1.0 mg/L. Chlorate was formed in all jar-test samples. / Master of Science