Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been previously shown to adsorb organic precursors of disinfection byproducts (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs), dihaloacetonitriles (DHANs), and total N-nitrosamines (TONO). The goal of this study is to elucidate CNT physical and chemical properties that enhance DBP precursor adsorption and provide proof-of-concept evidence to support a novel CNT-based application mode. Batch sorption data with varying CNT types, doses, and pH were analyzed with numerical models which revealed specific surface area controlled adsorption of THM and DHAN precursors and cumulative pore volume and surface oxygen content controlled adsorption of TONO precursors. To facilitate assessment of TONO precursors in low flow continuous flow sorption systems, a surrogate was developed using metrics from asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with inline fluorescence detection and whole water fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (R² = 0.576). Using this surrogate, we showed that affixed, CNT micropillars were capable of sorbing TONO precursors in continuous flow systems. These findings inform future modification of CNTs and provide proof-of-concept for development of structured CNT bundles for enhanced adsorption of TONO precursors.

中文翻译：

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新兴研究者系列：三卤甲烷，二卤乙腈和总N-亚硝胺前体在改性碳纳米管（CNT）和CNT微柱上的吸附

先前已显示碳纳米管（CNT）吸附消毒副产物（DBP）的有机前体，包括三卤甲烷（THM），二卤乙腈（DHAN）和总N-亚硝胺（TONO）。这项研究的目的是阐明增强DBP前体吸附的CNT物理和化学特性，并提供概念证明以支持基于CNT的新型应用模式。使用数值模型分析了具有不同CNT类型，剂量和pH的批次吸附数据，该模型揭示了THM和DHAN前体的比表面积控制吸附以及TONO前体的累积孔体积和表面氧含量控制吸附。为了便于评估低流量连续流吸附系统中的TONO前体，² = 0.576）。使用这种替代方法，我们表明固定的CNT微柱能够吸收连续流系统中的TONO前体。这些发现为将来对CNT的修饰提供了信息，并为开发结构化的CNT束以增强TONO前体的吸附提供了概念验证。