Objective To develop a quality control solution for examination of 5 disinfection byproducts in drinking water and to evaluate the ability of personal engaged in determinating these byproducts.

Methods Two different amount of sodium chlorite, sodium bromate, dichloroacetic acid, sodium chlorate and trichloroacetic acid were dissolved in simulated drinking water to make two kinds of quality control samples, and then sealed the samples in the ampoules. Ten samples from each quality control solutions were randomly selected to determine the concentrations of these disinfection byproducts by using ion chromatography/conductivity detector to test the homogeneous. Three samples stored at 4℃ and 40℃ were chosen each time at different intervals to determine the concentrations of disinfection byproducts for testing the stability.

Results The concentrations of the five kinds of disinfection byproducts were homogeneous in the quality control samples. The RSD of these disinfection byproducts were in the range of 0.35%~1.23%. The concentrations of these five byproducts were stable at 4℃ for 90 d. The concentrations of chlorite, bromate and dichloroacetic acid concentration significantly decreased, and the concentration of chlorate slightly increased when the pH value was adjusted to 1.8.

Conclusion The quality control samples could be used to test the proficiency of determining these five disinfection byproducts in drinking water and could be used as a quality control in the process of examination of water samples.