Breakpoint Chemistry and Volatile Byproduct Formation Resulting from Chlorination of Model Organic-N Compounds

Abstract

Aqueous solutions containing six model organic-N compounds (glycine, cysteine, asparagine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine) were subjected to chlorination at various chlorine (Cl) to precursor (P) molar ratios for 30 min. Chlorine residuals were determined by both DPD/FAS titration and the MIMS (Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry) method to evaluate breakpoint chlorination behavior, residual chlorine distributions, and byproducts. DPD/FAS titration was found to yield false-positive measurements of inorganic combined chlorine residuals in all cases. The breakpoint chlorination curve shape was strongly influenced by the structure of the model compound. Cyanogen chloride was found to be present as a byproduct in all cases, and the yield was strongly dependent on the Cl:P molar ratio and the structure of the compounds, with glycine being the most efficient CNCl precursor. Six byproducts other than cyanogen chloride were also identified. Free chlorine measurements by DPD/FAS titration and MIMS were in good agreement. This finding, together with the results of previously conducted research, suggests that both methods are capable of yielding accurate measurements of free chlorine concentration, even in solutions that contain complex mixtures of +1-valent chlorine compounds.