Kinetics of Disinfection

Chicks Law:

N
Log
K.t
No

No = Number of micro-organisms at time, t = 0

N = number of microorganisms at time t
K = Constant dependent on,
1. Type of disinfectant
2. Concentration of disinfectant
3. Type of microorganism

Concept of Log Removals:

N
Log o 1; 1 - Log Removal, i.e., 90 % removal
N
N
Log o 2; 2 - Log Removal, i.e., 99 % removal
N
N
Log o 3; 3 - Log Removal, i.e., 99.9 % removal
N
and so on.
on

Chick-Watsons Law:

Simplified Chick-Watsons Law

N
n
Log
.C .t
No

Assuming n = 1 in Chick-Watsons Law,

Coefficient of specific lethality, dependent on

1 Type of disinfectant
1.
2. Type of microorganism
C = Concentration of the disinfectant
n = constant dependent upon
1. Type of disinfectant
2. Type of microorganism

N
Log o ' .(C.t )
N
Need to know, values, so that the
Ct value corresponding to a desired
log-removal
removal may be calculated for
log
the
specified
microorganismdisinfectant combination

Disinfectant of interest: Free chlorine

Target microorganism??
Many microorganisms cause water borne diseases,
Some Examples:

Bacteria: Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli (certain strains),

Shigella, Salmonella typhi,
Viruses: Poliovirus, Hepatitis A virus, Astrovirus, Calicivirus,
Enteric Adenovirus, and Parvovirus
Protozoa: Entamoeba hystolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum

Giardia lamblia exists as

dormant microbial cysts in
contaminated water. These are
the most difficult to kill. Hence
if the objective of disinfection is
to target Giardia lamblia, then
we may be reasonably sure that
all other pathogens in water are
also inactivated.

CT values (in mg/L-min) of the removal of Giardia lamblia cysts at various pH values (T = 20oC)
(using free chlorine as disinfectant)
1- Log

2-Log

3-Log

pH = 6

14

28

42

pH = 7

20

39

59

pH = 8

30

59

89

pH = 9

43

86

129

Why are the CT values pH dependent??

Free chlorine consists of two species,
p
[HOCl]
[
] and [[OCl-]]. Amongg these, [[HOCl]] is by
y far more
effective for disinfection. In fact, disinfection by [OCl ] may be neglected in comparison to that
by [HOCl]
Concept of CT Credit
Bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms are particles. Hence they are removed substantially
by particle removal processes, i.e., coagulation-flocculation and filtration commonly used in
water treatment. It may be assumed that 2.5-log removal of Giardia lamblia cysts occur during
conventional water treatment, while 2-log removal may be assumed in case of direct filtration.
Hence, if 5-log removal of Giardia lamblia cysts is desired during conventional water
treatment, the disinfection system should be designed corresponding to a CT value of only
2.5.
(Solved example of a disinfection problem will be described in Lab 6)

Disinfection by-products (DBPs)

Addition products of chlorine with organic matter present in water
Trihalomethanes: 4 kinds
Haloacetic acids: 9 kinds
These are the most common chlorination by-products, though many others are also formed.
Some of the DBPs are carcinogenic
Risk assessment:

Immediate risk of illness from water borne diseases versus long term risk
of cancer

Of course, best option will be to prevent formation of DBPs. For this, DBPs precursors, i.e.,
dissolved organic matter must be destroyed or removed from water before chlorination. Another
option will be to use alternative disinfectants.

Alternative Disinfectants
Ozone
ClO2
UV
Big disadvantage:

they do not leave behind any residual for protection against recontamination of water in the distribution system.

Underground Storage Tank

Inlet
1m

Pump

Overflow
Ground Level

Am

Outlet

Maximum Storage
Ground Level

Minimum Storage
Bm

Maximum Water demand = 22.52 MLD

Peak water demand = 37.53 MLD
Total storage capacity (in UG and OH tanks combined) = 4.30 ML
Maximum Storage (UGT) = 2.30 ML
p
in Lab 6
How?? Explained
Minimum Storage (UGT) = 1.16 ML

Water Distribution Network

UGT
2300 m3

OHT

7.28 MLD
400 m3

WTP
Intake
k
9.45 MLD
500 m3
OHT

OHT

River

5.32 MLD
300 m3
OHT

OHT

River

7.43 MLD
00 m3
400

88.05
05 MLD
400 m3

Water Distribution Network

Input Node

Output

House Connections

Solving a pipe
network

Li = Length of ith pipe (known)

Di = Diameter of ith pipe (known)
fi = Friction factor of ith pipe (known)

QA
A
ha

Q1, h1

ha is
i known
k
Q3, h3

QB

QA, QB, QC, QD, QE and QF are known

QA = QB + QC + QD + QE + QF

hb
QF

+ve
Q4, h4

Q2, h2

hf

At any node, Q i 0
Flow into a node is +ve,
Flow going away for a node is ve
Q A Q1 Q 3 0
Q1 Q B Q 2 0

+ve

hc

QC

Q5, h5

hd

Q7, h7

Q6, h6
he

D
QD

E
QE

Q 2 Q 4 QC Q5 0

Use any 5

Q5 Q D Q 7 0
Q7 Q6 Q E 0
Q3 Q 4 Q F Q 6 0

In any loop,

Then calculate corresponding h1 to h7

h 3 h 4 h 2 h1 0

h1 = hb ha
h2 = hc hb
h3 = hf ha
h4 = hc hf
h5 = hd hc
h6 = he hf
h7 = he - hd

h6 h7 h5 h 4 0

Calculate hb to hf

Darcy-Weisbach Equation:

Li (vi ) 2
L i (Q i ) 2 1
fi . .
.
h i fi . .
2
D i ( A i ) 2g
D i 2g
2
D
i
Ai = cross-sectional area of ith pipe, A i .
4

Use both

Solve the 7 equations simultaneously

to get values of Q1 to Q7
Change the direction of flow if any
Qi is -ve

degrees of freedom = (number of nodes) + (number of loops) -1 = 6 + 2 1 = 7