CHLORINATION AND FORMATION OF ORGANOIODINATED COMPOUNDS - THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF AMMONIA

This study has been undertaken to determine the conditions of formatio n of organoiodinated compounds responsible for medicinal tastes and od ors frequently observed after chlorination of waters containing iodide s. It has been shown that iodoform was formed in the presence of chlor amines, in a region where the formation of the most classical chlorina ted and brominated THMs is usually unfavored. Reactions would take pla ce between monochloramine, organic matter, and iodides to yield iodofo rm. These interactions are favored when iodide ions are replaced by io dine. Oxidation by iodine alone in the presence of ammonia and without monochloramine does not explain the yield of the iodinated THMs obser ved. However, nitrogenated molecules such as amines and amino acids wo uld take part during chlorination in the production of organoiodinated compounds to a small extent.