RAPID: Role of Physical, Chemical and Diffusion Properties of 4-Methyl-cyclohexane methanol in Remediating Contaminated Water and Water Pipes

该项目将在这些关键领域开展基础和应用研究。 尚未对4-甲基环己烷甲醇（MCHM）的化学物理性质进行评价，这些性质对于确定饮用水处理、分配系统（例如，消费者家庭）和天然沃茨中的归宿和迁移是必要的。这项研究的第一阶段将是量化MCHM的化学性质。具体而言：使用C18 HPLC保留时间生成辛醇-水分配系数（Kow）;通过用MCHM饱和水并测量水溶液浓度来测量水溶解度（S）;使用静态顶空平衡和SPME-GC/MS测量亨利定律常数（H）。2. 研究人员先前的工作已经开发出一种预测模型，用于预测塑料管道中各种有机物的扩散系数和溶解度。使用Kow和S值，将估计扩散和管道溶解度。这将有助于验证其他研究的实验室结果，这些研究也在调查MCHM泄漏。 MCHM具有约0.00001 mg/L的低水性气味阈值。因此，消费者可能成为重要的监测哨兵暴露于低水平的MCHM。在房子里检测异味的主要位置是淋浴，因为水的温度高，水流在一个封闭的区域。利用研究人员以前的建模工作和上述第1阶段测得的亨利定律常数，将开发典型淋浴条件下MCHM空气浓度的动态模型。这将确认消费者感官检测是否有助于检测残留MCHM的位置。它还将有助于公用事业公司了解消费者的投诉，从长远来看，将有助于通过吸入进行暴露评估。虽然聚乙烯管道材料已被证明与有机化学品相互作用，但对有机物与用于内衬水管和储罐的环氧材料的相互作用知之甚少。饮用水级环氧树脂衬垫将用于评估MCHM的吸附/吸收性能。环氧树脂中的扩散系数和溶解度将使用增重/浸泡、时间滞后和扩散/渗透方法测定。2014年1月10日，西弗吉尼亚州9个县的居民被州长告知“不要喝水”，因为水被用于清洁煤炭的4-甲基环己烷甲醇（MCHM）污染。尽管2014年1月13日开始解除限水令，预计所有居民最终都能喝上自来水，但在水系统中这种化学物质的短期和长期命运和运输方面仍存在许多科学知识空白。这一快速赠款将解决许多这些差距。 这项研究旨在提供基本的科学数据，可用于避免西弗吉尼亚州MCHM泄漏造成的潜在健康和环境问题，以及随后对饮用水处理和分配系统的污染。所获得的知识将通过期刊出版物和专业会议上的演讲与科学和工程界分享。管道材料污染和净化的知识将通过一个简短的，面向公民的出版物与公众分享，将张贴在水资源研究中心的网页上。学生研究人员将通过我们的“水界面跨学科研究”网站上的博客传播知识。

Dietrich1424234This project will generate fundamental and applied research in these key areas.1. The chemical-physical properties of 4-methyl-cyclohexane methanol (MCHM) have not all been evaluated and they are necessary to determine the fate and transport within the drinking water treatment, distribution system (for example, consumers homes), and natural waters. The first stage of this research will be to quantify the chemical properties of MCHM. Specifically: the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) will be generated using C18 HPLC retention time; the aqueous solubility (S) will be measured by saturating water with MCHM and measuring the aqueous concentration; and the Henry's Law constant (H) will be measured using static headspace equilibrium and SPME-GC/MS.2. Previous work by the researchers has developed a predictive model of diffusion coefficients and solubility for a wide range of organics in plastic pipe. Using Kow and S values, diffusion and pipe solubility's will be estimated. This will help validate laboratory results from other research also investigating the MCHM spill.3. MCHM has a low aqueous odor threshold of approximately 0.00001 mg/L. Thus consumers can potentially become important monitoring sentinels for exposure to low levels of MCHM. The main location in the house to detect off-odors is the shower because of high water temperatures and water flows in a confined area. Using previous modeling work by the researchers and the measured Henry's Law constants from stage 1 above, dynamic models of MCHM air concentrations for typical showering conditions will be developed. This will confirm if consumer sensory detection can aid in detecting locations of residual MCHM. It will also aid in the utility's understanding of consumer complaints, and in the longer term will aid in exposure assessment through inhalation.4. While polyethylene pipe materials have been shown to interact with organic chemicals, less is known about the interaction of organics with epoxy materials used to line water pipes and storage tanks. Drinking-water-grade epoxy-liner will be used to evaluate sorption/uptake performance for MCHM. Diffusion coefficients and solubility in epoxy will be determined using weight gain/immersion, time lag, and diffusion/ permeation methods. Similar experiments will be conducted on polyethylene pipe materials.On January 10, 2014, residents of nine West Virginia counties were told by their governor "Do Not Drink the Water" because it was contaminated with odorous 4-methyl-cyclohexane methanol (MCHM) which is used to clean coal. Even though the water restrictions began to be lifted on January 13, 2014 and all residents are eventually expected to be able to drink tap water, there are still many scientific knowledge gaps in the short and long term fate and transport of this chemical in water systems. This RAPID Grant will address many of those gaps. This research seeks to provide fundamental scientific data that can be used to avoid potential health and environmental problems caused by the MCHM spill in West Virginia and the subsequent contamination of the drinking water treatment and distribution system. The knowledge gained will be shared with the scientific and engineering communities through journal publications and presentations at professional conferences. The knowledge on pipe material contamination and decontamination will be shared with the general public through a short, citizen-oriented publication to be posted on the Water Resources Research Center web page. Student researchers will disseminate the knowledge gain through blogs on our "Water INTERFACE Interdisciplinary Research" website.