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

本项目将在这些关键领域产生基础研究和应用研究。4-甲基-环己烷甲醇（MCHM）的化学物理性质尚未全部得到评估，但它们对于确定其在饮用水处理、分配系统（例如消费者家庭）和天然水中的命运和运输是必要的。本研究的第一阶段将是量化MCHM的化学性质。具体来说：利用C18 HPLC保留时间生成辛醇-水分配系数（Kow）；用MCHM使水饱和，测定水溶液浓度，测定水溶液溶解度S；亨利定律常数(H)将使用静态顶空平衡和SPME-GC/ ms测量。研究人员之前的工作已经为塑料管中的各种有机物开发了扩散系数和溶解度的预测模型。利用Kow和S值，估计扩散和管道溶解度。这将有助于验证其他调查MCHM泄漏的研究的实验室结果。MCHM的水气味阈值较低，约为0.00001 mg/L。因此，消费者可能成为监测暴露于低水平甲基甲烷的重要哨兵。房子里检测异味的主要位置是淋浴间，因为水的温度很高，而且水在一个密闭的区域内流动。利用研究人员先前的建模工作和上述第1阶段测量的亨利定律常数，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可以帮助检测残留甲基甲烷的位置。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，它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物质相互作用，但人们对有机物质与用于管道和储罐的环氧树脂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价MCHM的吸附/吸收性能。扩散系数和在环氧树脂中的溶解度将通过增重/浸泡、时间滞后和扩散/渗透方法来确定。类似的实验将在聚乙烯管材上进行。2014年1月10日，西弗吉尼亚州9个县的居民被州长告知“不要喝这些水”，因为这些水被用于清洁煤的难闻的4-甲基环己烷甲醇（MCHM）污染了。尽管限水措施于2014年1月13日开始解除，所有居民最终有望饮用自来水，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。快速赠款将解决其中的许多差距。本研究旨在提供基本的科学数据，用于避免西弗吉尼亚州MCHM泄漏以及随后的饮用水处理和分配系统污染所造成的潜在健康和环境问题。所获得的知识将通过期刊出版物和在专业会议上的演讲与科学和工程界分享。有关管道材料污染和除污的知识，将在水资源研究中心网页上刊登一份面向市民的简短刊物，与公众分享。学生研究人员将通过我们的“水界面跨学科研究”网站的博客传播所获得的知识。

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.