Skip to Content
Merck
  • A N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursor analysis for chlorination of water and wastewater.

A N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursor analysis for chlorination of water and wastewater.

Water research (2003-07-18)
William A Mitch, Andreas C Gerecke, David L Sedlak
ABSTRACT

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a potent carcinogen formed during chloramination of water and wastewater treatment plant effluents. A procedure is described for quantifying the concentration of the organic precursors of NDMA that could be formed during chlorination of wastewaters and natural waters. The method involves applying a high dose of monochloramine to a pH-buffered sample followed by a 10-day contact period, during which the monochloramine decays at a rate unrelated to the composition of the sample. Analyses of samples of municipal wastewater effluents and surface waters indicate that the method provides a robust and reproducible measurement of NDMA precursors over a wide range of conditions. A sensitive GC/CI/MS/MS analytical procedure for dimethylamine also is described and used to demonstrate that NDMA formation during chlorination of wastewater and natural waters cannot be explained by dimethylamine concentrations alone.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
N,N-Dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline, ≥97%