Chlorine Dioxide Degradation Issues on Metal and Plastic Water Pipes Tested in Parallel in a Semi-Closed System

Alberto Vertova, Alessandro Miani, Giordano Lesma, Sandra Rondinini, Alessandro Minguzzi, Luigi Falciola and Marco Aldo Ortenzi
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Alberto Vertova: Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19-20133 Milan, Italy
Alessandro Miani: Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2-20133 Milan, Italy
Giordano Lesma: Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19-20133 Milan, Italy
Sandra Rondinini: Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19-20133 Milan, Italy
Alessandro Minguzzi: Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19-20133 Milan, Italy
Luigi Falciola: Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19-20133 Milan, Italy
Marco Aldo Ortenzi: Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19-20133 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: Chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) has been widely used as a disinfectant in drinking water in the past but its effects on water pipes have not been investigated deeply, mainly due to the difficult experimental set-up required to simulate real-life water pipe conditions. In the present paper, four different kinds of water pipes, two based on plastics, namely random polypropylene (PPR) and polyethylene of raised temperature (PERT/aluminum multilayer), and two made of metals, i.e., copper and galvanized steel, were put in a semi-closed system where ClO 2 was dosed continuously. The semi-closed system allowed for the simulation of real ClO 2 concentrations in common water distribution systems and to simulate the presence of pipes made with different materials from the source of water to the tap. Results show that ClO 2 has a deep effect on all the materials tested (plastics and metals) and that severe damage occurs due to its strong oxidizing power in terms of surface chemical modification of metals and progressive cracking of plastics. These phenomena could in turn become an issue for the health and safety of drinking water due to progressive leakage of degraded products in the water.

Keywords: chlorine dioxide; water disinfection; plastic pipes; metal pipes; microplastics; water treatment; degradation by-products (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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