Distribution of Aqueous Chlorine with Nitrogenous Compounds: Chlorine Transfer from Organic Chloramines to Ammonia

A kinetic model for chlorine transfer in the aqueous chlorine/ammonia/organic nitrogen system was constructed and used to explain the distribution of the chlorine species over time. Observed second-order rate constants for chlorine transfer from organic chloramines to ammonia were found to be 3.84 × 10⁻² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for N-chloroglycine, 1.55 × 10⁻² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for N-chloroglycylglycine, and 5.85 × 10⁻³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for N-chloromethylamine (pH 6.8). Chlorine transfer from organic chloramines to ammonia was found to be significant under simulated conditions of wastewater disinfection. The rates of chlorine transfer from organic chloramines to ammonia and chloramine hydrolysis both decreased with increasing basicity of the chloramine.