Principal objectives of this research program were to examine the effects of disinfection by chlorine, ozone, and ultraviolet light irradiation on nonvolatile organic constituents in secondary effluents relative to chemical effects and formation of mutagenic substances. In a comparative study of effluents from nine wastewater treatment plants, it was determined that disinfection with chlorine or ozone both destroys and produces nonvolatile organic constituents including mutagenic constituents. The chemical effects of disinfection by uv-irradiation were relatively slight although in one effluent, mutagenic constituents were eliminated by uv-irradiation. The investigation utilized the following methodology: concentration of effluents by lyophilization; high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation of nonvolatile organic constituents in effluent concentrates using uv-absorbance, cerate oxidation, and fluorescence detection; bacterial mutagenicity testing of concentrates and chromatographic fractions; identification and characterization of nonvolatile organic constituents in mutagenic HPLC fractions. No compounds known to be mutagens were identified in the mutagenic HPLC fractions separated from the undisinfected, chlorinated and ozonated effluent concentrates. The mutagenic activity of the nonvolatile organic constituents in one chlorinated effluent concentrate was not attributable to organic chloramines.

"PB82-254053." "EPA/600/2-82-017." "Mar 82"--Cover. Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-174). Microfiche.