Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) are emerging disinfection byproducts generated during the reaction of chlorine disinfectant with natural organic matter (NOM) in source water. In this study, the correlations between molecular weight and HBQs generation of river NOM was evaluated. The compositional and functional characteristics of primary HBQs precursors were revealed by using Orbitrap mass spectrometry combined with molecular tagging. The NOM fraction larger than 50 kDa resulted in approximately 9 times more HBQs (50.9 ± 2.7 ng/mgC) than low molecular weight fractions. Significant correlations were found between the yields of HBQs and lignin-like and highly oxygen compounds in NOM, suggesting their critical roles in HBQs formation. Derivatizating the aldehydes, ketones, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in NOM could reduce HBQs yields by 90.7%–100%. Unraveling the molecular characteristics of HBQs precursors in NOM would greatly benefit the prediction of HBQs yields of different source water, and develop more efficient disinfection byproduct control strategies.

卤代苯醌 (HBQ) 是氯消毒剂与源水中天然有机物 (NOM) 反应过程中产生的新兴消毒副产物。本研究评估了河流 NOM 的分子量与 HBQ 生成之间的相关性。通过使用 Orbitrap 质谱法结合分子标记揭示了主要 HBQ 前体的组成和功能特征。大于 50 kDa 的 NOM 级分产生的 HBQ (50.9 ± 2.7 ng/mgC) 是低分子量级分的大约 9 倍。在 NOM 中 HBQ 与木质素类和高氧化合物的产率之间发现了显着相关性，表明它们在 HBQ 形成中发挥着关键作用。对 NOM 中的醛、酮、羟基和羧基进行衍生化可以使 HBQ 产率降低 90.7%–100%。揭示NOM中HBQs前体的分子特征将极大地有利于不同水源水中HBQs产量的预测，并开发更有效的消毒副产物控制策略。