AWWA JAW17290

In this study, alum and ferric sulfate were evaluated for their effectiveness in removing four low-molecular-weight compounds octanoic acid, salicylic acid, phenol, and benzoic acid -- from Mississippi River water and from water samples free of natural organic matter. Removal of these model compounds ranged from between three and twenty percent, which is similar to the removals observed for the <1K fraction of natural organic matter. Solution pH affected the removal of the aromatic compounds but not of octanoic acid. Except for benzoic acid, all the model compounds were removed better in the absence of natural organics. Removal was found to be relatively insensitive to coagulant dosage. Includes 26 references, tables, figures.