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DISINFECTION: CHLORINE, MONOCHLORAMINE, AND CHLORINE DIOXIDE
Citation:
Rice*, E W. DISINFECTION: CHLORINE, MONOCHLORAMINE, AND CHLORINE DIOXIDE. Bitton, G. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology. John Wiley & Sons Incorporated, New York, NY, (2002).
Description:
The disinfection process in the treatment of water is designed to insure the inactivation of microbial pathogens. These pathogens which serve as the etiological agents of waterborne disease comprise a diverse group of microorganisms, which include bacterial, viral and protozoan species. Disinfection coupled with physical removal processes, such as clarification and filtration, comprise the basic unit processes used in water treatment. However, under certain circumstances disinfection may serve as the sole method of treatment. Chlorine, monochloramine and chlorine dioxide, are commonly used halogenated oxidizing agents used in the disinfection process. These chemical disinfectants are utilized in both the treatment of water and wastewater and for maintaining disinfectant residuals in water disrtribution systems.