DISINFECTION

• It is the process of killing pathogenic bacteria

• Disinfection Kinetics
• When a single unit of microorganisms is exposed
to a single unit of disinfectant, the reduction in
microorganisms follows a first-order reaction.
dN/dt=-kN
N=N0e-kt

• This equation is known as Chick’s Law:-

N = number of microorganism (N0 is initial number)
k = disinfection constant
t = contact time
 Methods
Boiling of water
• Most effective method of disinfection of water.
• Cannot be used for huge quantities of public water
supply.
• Used only for domestic purposes in case of
emergency.

Treatment with excess lime

• Effectively kills bacteria.
• Excess lime raises pH of water to 9.5 or more there
by killing bacteria.
• However Recarbonation ( process of removal of
excess lime before it is supplied to public) is
necessary.
Ozone
• It is more powerful disinfectant compared to chlorine
but is more costly.
• Used for small scale disinfection of water such as
swimming pool.
• It is less efficient than chlorine in killing bacteria.
Iodine and bromine pills
• Compared to chlorine , it gives longer lasting protection
against pathogens and reduces offensive taste and odor.
• As it is expensive, it is not used for public water supply.
But it can be used in swimming pools, private plants etc.
Ultra violet rays
Potassium permanganate
Chlorination
 CHLORINATION
It is used as disinfecting material on large scale
because :-
It is easy to apply due to its high solubility.
Readily available as gas, liquid or powder.
Very toxic to most of micro-organisms.
Leaves harmless residue in solution.
Desired effects are long lasting.
Treatment is cheap and reliable.
 Chlorine chemistry
• Chlorine is added to the water supply in two ways. It is
most often added as a gas, Cl2(g). However, it also can be
added as a salt, such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or
bleach. Chlorine gas dissolves in water following Henry's
Law.
Cl2(g) Cl2(aq)
• Once dissolved, the following reaction occurs forming
hypochlorous acid (HOCl):
Cl2(aq)+H2O HOCl + H+ + Cl- (pH>5)
• Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid that dissociates to form
hypochlorite ion (OCl-).
• HOCl OCl- + H+ (pH>8)
• Free available chlorine = [HOCl] + [OCl− ] + [Cl2 ]

• Out of these 3 forms of free available chlorine, hypochlorous acid

is 80 times more effective than [OCl− ].

• Due to this reason the pH value of water during chlorination is

maintained between 5 to 7.

• These free chlorine compounds react with many organic and

inorganic compounds to ferro chlorinated compounds. If these
chlorinated compounds possess oxidizing potential, they are
considered the combine chlorine residual.

• A common compound in water that on reaction with chlorine form

combined chlorine residuals is Ammonia.
Chlorine dosage
• In general, most of waters are satisfactorily disinfected if free
chlorine residuals is about 0.2 mg/l, 10 minutes after the
chlorine is added.
Fig 1
Break point chlorination (referring fig.1)
• If water is pure and if it has no chlorine demand, any chlorine
that is added to such water will come out as residual chlorine.
This is shown by LINE A.
But for water containing organic matter, the chlorine has to
perform the following 2 functions:
1. To remove bacteria from water
2. To oxidize the organic matter present in water.
• The chlorine when added to water, performs the function of
removing bacteria first and then it starts to accumulate up to
certain point. This is represented by point C on curve B.
• At this stage if further dosage of chlorine is added in water, it is
followed by sudden decrease in residual chlorine content. This
stage is sometimes accompanied by bad smell and taste.
• This indicates the extra quantity of chlorine added after point C
on curve B is used for oxidization of organic matter present in
water.
Continued….

• If still further chlorine is added in water, a point D is reached

on curve B, when bad smell and taste suddenly disappear and
residual chlorine tends to accumulate as represented by
“LINE E”.
• The point D on curve B is known as the “break point” as any
chlorine that is added to the water beyond this point breaks
through the water and appears as residual chlorine.