Research Product

Current methods underestimate the residual oxidants in chlorinated seawater by as much as 70% depending upon the details of the procedures. Chlorination of seawater in the presence of light produces bromate ions which can influence standard analytical procedures and represent an unknown factor in estuarine and coastal waters. Toxicity of bromate ion and persistence in coastal waters has not been determined. The copper complexing capacity of Biscayne Bay, Florida, water was reduced with the addition of chlorine. Analysis was by anodic stripping voltammetry on water samples after successive additions of copper sulfate solutions. Chlorination of seawater may produce toxicity and growth reduction through the indirect mechanism of copper release and/or reduced binding capacity. Laboratory chlorination of water from the intake of the Port Everglades, Florida, power plant produces bromoform levels comparable to that found in the plant. Chloroform extracts of chlorinated Biscayne Bay water are found to contain halogenated compounds which are new and different, and which pose unusual analytical problems. Studies usng GC/EC, GC/MS, HPLC, 1H NMR, differential pulse polarography and other techniques on natural extracts and synthesized compounds are reported.