Ammoniacal bromamines: a review of their influence on bromate formation during ozonation

Ammonia can inhibit the formation of bromate in ozonated drinking water by reacting with free bromine (HOBr/OBr-), an intermediate in bromate formation, to form bromamines. Bromamines do not participate in bromate formation, however, they will decay due to autonomous decomposition and through reaction with ozone and hydroxyl radicals. The reaction with ozone controls the overall decay rate. This reaction also results in a net loss of ammonia from the system, leading to the possibility that all ammonia may be oxidized before the ozone residual in the water is eliminated, allowing bromate formation to resume. This paper presents a review of our understanding of bromamine chemistry and identifies areas that are not adequately understood, which may prevent an accurate estimation of ammonia's impact on bromate formation.