Removal of bromide by aluminium chloride coagulant in the presence of humic acid

Bromide can form disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water disinfection process, which have adverse effects on human health. Using aluminium chloride as a model coagulant, removal of bromide by coagulation was investigated in the absence or presence of humic acid (HA) in synthetic water and then was conducted in raw water. Results demonstrated that in synthetic water, 93.3-99.2% removal efficiency of bromide was achieved in the absence of HA with 3-15 mg/L coagulant, while 78.4-98.4% removal efficiency of bromide was obtained in the presence of HA with the same coagulant dosage and 86.8-98.8% HA was removed simultaneously. Bromide in raw water was removed 87.0% with 15 mg/L coagulant. HA apparently reduced the removal of bromide with low coagulant dosage or at high pH, while minor influence on removal of bromide was observed with high coagulant dosage or at low pH. Thus, bromide could be reduced effectively by enhanced coagulation in drinking water treatment.