Cast iron and ductile iron pipes are in use in water distribution systems throughout the U.S. and
in Europe. Iron metal (Fe(0)) and the Fe(II) produced during corrosion of iron are potent
reductants that have been shown to promote the reduction of a wide variety of halogenated
organic chemicals. Thus, batch experiments were performed to investigate the degradation of a
wide variety of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in the presence of Fe(0), iron minerals containing
Fe(II), and Fe(II) sorbed onto iron oxide surfaces. Most DBPs tested were completely
dehalogenated in the presence of Fe(0) to non-toxic endproducts. As expected, degradation
rates in the presence of Fe(II) minerals (e.g., magnetite) and sorbed Fe(II) were slower than
with Fe(0). The effects of a competing oxidant such as dissolved oxygen were mixed, as the
degradation rates of rapidly degraded (i.e. mass transfer limited degradation) compounds were
unaffected while a lag phase was observed for slower reacting (i.e. surface reaction limited)
compounds. The results of this research suggest that abiotic degradation may play a role in the
fate of DBPs in distribution systems and also suggests a possible treatment strategy for DBP
removal from water supplies. Includes 7 references, table, figures.