NF/RO Membranes Ability to Remove 1,4-Dioxane From Water Sources Used for Drinking Water Production

As research advances, compounds contained in water resources are being identified and regulated for removal during treatment chain for drinking water production. This is closely linked to the evolution of analytical techniques that allow these molecules to be detected and quantified at ever lower concentrations. 1,4-dioxane is a chemical used as solvent and solvent stabilizer which is classified as possibly carcinogenic for humans (classified in group 2B by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (IARC, 2021). Due to its physico-chemical properties (see Figure 1), 1,4-dioxane is difficult to remove by conventional treatment processes and similar concentrations are regularly encountered at the inlet and outlet of Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTP). United States are directly concerned by this topic as several water resources (surface and groundwater) present 1,4-dioxane with variables concentrations depending on the localization. Figure 2 summarizes data generated by Eurofins USA in 2017: 1,4 dioxane was detected in 12% of samples nationwide, around 3% exceed 0.35 ?g/l and around 1% exceed 3.5 g/l.