Epoxiconazole degradation in water samples: a comparative study of Fenton, photo-Fenton, solar photo-Fenton, and solar photolysis processes.

Epoxiconazole (EPO) is classified as a persistent organic pollutant due to its ability to persist in the environment for prolonged periods. Its degradation is pivotal in mitigating its environmental impact. This investigation focuses on assessing the degradation of EPO using various methodologies, namely Fenton, photo-Fenton, solar photo-Fenton, and solar photolysis, conducted in both Milli-Q water and groundwater. These experiments encompassed evaluations at both the standard pH typically used in photo-Fenton reactions and the natural pH levels inherent to the respective aqueous environments. Additionally, EPO degradation products were analyzed after a 60-min reaction. Notably, in systems utilizing groundwater, the inclusion of additional iron was unnecessary, as the naturally occurring iron content in the groundwater facilitated the intended processes. Specifically, in Milli-Q water, solar photo-Fenton demonstrated an EPO degradation efficiency of 97%. Furthermore, the substitution of Milli-Q water with groundwater in Fenton-like processes did not significantly affect the efficacy of EPO degradation. These findings underscore the potential of solar photo-Fenton as an economically viable and environmentally sustainable strategy for EPO degradation.

A novel eco-friendly polymeric photosensitizer based on chitosan and flavin mononucleotide.

Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) is a dye belonging to the flavin family. These dyes produce photosensitized degradation of organic compounds via reaction with the excited states of the dye or with reactive oxygen species photogenerated from the triplet of the dye. This article presents a new polymeric dye (FMN-CS) composed of the photosensitizer FMN covalently bonded to chitosan polysaccharide (CS). FMN-CS obtained has a molecular weight of 230 × 103 g mol-1 and a deacetylation degree of 74.8%. The polymeric dye is an environmentally friendly polymer with spectroscopic and physicochemical properties similar to those of FMN and CS, respectively. Moreover, under sunlight, it is capable of generating 1O2 with a quantum yield of 0.31. FMN-CS, like CS, is insoluble in basic media. This allows easy recovery of the polymeric dye once the photosensitized process has been carried out and makes FMN-CS a suitable photosensitizer for the degradation of pollutants in contaminated waters. To evaluate whether FMN-CS may be used for pollutant degradation, the photosensitized degradation of two trihydroxybenzenes by FMN-CS was studied.

Riboflavin and Eosin Y Supported on Chromatographic Silica Gel as Heterogeneous Photocatalysts.

The application of photocatalysis for organic synthesis, both in the laboratory and on an industrial scale, will depend on the achieving of good yields and the ease with which it can be applied. Selective irradiation of the photocatalyst with LED light has made it possible to activate the reactions easily, without the need for UV or heat filters. However, a common problem is the need to separate the photocatalyst from the reaction products through extraction and chromatography isolation processes. These procedures make it difficult to recover and reuse the catalyst, which is not compatible with scale-up applications. Photocatalysts attached to heterogeneous supports resulted in an alternative, which facilitates their removal and reuse. In this study, we use chromatographic silica gel as a low-cost heterogeneous support to bind photosensitizers such as Riboflavin or Eosin Y. The modified silica gel was analyzed by FTIR-ATR and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and optical microscopy. These hybrid materials have a suitable size for easy separation by decantation and were found to be photoactive against two photooxidation reactions. These easy-to-handle materials open the door to effective applications for photoinduced organic synthesis methods at medium to large scale.

Photo-Fenton and Riboflavin-photosensitized Processes of the Isoxaflutole Herbicide.

The proherbicide Isoxaflutole (IXF) hydrolyzes spontaneously to diketonitrile (DKN) a phytotoxic compound with herbicidal activity. In this work, the sensitized degradation of IXF using Riboflavin (Rf), a typical environmentally friendly sensitizer, Fenton and photo-Fenton processes has been studied. The results indicate that only the photo-Fenton process produces a significant degradation of the IXF. Photolysis experiments of IXF sensitized by Riboflavin is not a meaningful process, IXF quenches the Rf excited triplet (3 Rf*) state with a quenching rate constant of 1.5 · 107  m-1  s-1 and no reaction is observed with the species O2 (1 Δg ) or O 2 · - generated from 3 Rf*. The Fenton reaction produces no changes in the IXF concentration. While the photo-Fenton process of the IXF, under typical conditions, it produces a degradation of 99% and a mineralization to CO2 and H2 O of 88%. A rate constant value of 1.0 × 109  m-1  s-1 was determined for the reaction between IXF and HO˙. The photo-Fenton process degradation products were identified by UHPLC-MS/MS analysis.

The employment of a removable chitosan-derivatized polymeric sensitizer in the photooxidation of polyhydroxylated water-pollutants.

The known O2((1)∆g)-sensitizer system Chitosan bounded Rose Bengal (CH-RB), with Rose Bengal (RB) immobilized by irreversible covalent bonding to the polymer Chitosan (CH), soluble in aquous acidic medium, was employed in the photodegradation of three tri-hydroxy benzene water-contaminants (THBs). The system sensitizes the O2((1)∆g)-mediated photodegradation of THBs by a process kinetically favored, as compared to that employing free RB dissolved in the same solvent. Additionally the free xanthene dye, degradable by O2((1)∆g) through self-sensitization upon prolonged light-exposure, is considerably protected when bonded to CH-polymer. The polymeric sensitizer, totally insoluble in neutral medium, can be removed from the solution after the photodegradative cycle by precipitation through a simple pH change. This fact constitutes an interesting aspect in the context of photoremediation of confined polluted waters. In other words, the sensitizing system could be useful for avoiding to dissolve dyestuffs in the polluted waters, in order to act as conventional sunlight-absorbing dye-sensitizers. In parallel the interaction CH-O2((1)∆g) in acidic solution was evaluated. The polymer quenches the oxidative species with a rate constant 2.4 × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) being the process mostly attributable to a physical interaction. This fact promotes the photoprotection of the bonded dye in the CH-RB polymer.

A comparative photochemical study on the behavior of 3,3'-dihydroxyflavone and its complex with La(III) as generators and quenchers of reactive oxygen species.

A 1:1 complex between 3,3'-dihydroxyflavone (DHF) and La(III) (DHF-La(III)) is formed in methanolic solution with the relatively high apparent stability constant value of 2.3×10(6) and a calculated standard entropy change of 88.2 J mol(-1) K(-1), both at 25 °C. The photophysical properties of the complex and the free flavonoid are discussed in comparison to the well known related compound 3-hydroxyflavone. The ligand photogenerates O2((1)Δg) by energy transfer from its excited triplet state ((3)DHF(*)) to dissolved ground state oxygen, with a quantum yield of 0.13. (3)DHF(*) is quenched by La(III) with a rate constant close to the diffusion-controlled value. The respective abilities of the free flavonoid and DHF-La(III) as quenchers of the riboflavin-photogenerated reactive oxygen species singlet molecular oxygen (O2((1)Δg)) and superoxide radical anion (O2(-)) have been investigated. Both individual compounds were photoirradiated with visible light in the presence of the flavin as the only light-absorbing compound. A detailed kinetics and mechanistic study employing polarographic monitoring of oxygen uptake and time resolved detection of O2((1)Δg) phosphorescence indicates that DHF and the complex react with O2((1)Δg) and O2(-) by a non simple mechanism. The former deactivates O2((1)Δg) in a predominant physical fashion, a fact that constitutes a desirable property for antioxidants. It was found that metal chelation greatly enhances the ability of DHF as an overall O2((1)Δg) quencher.

Vitamin B1 as a scavenger of reactive oxygen species photogenerated by vitamin B2.

Kinetics and mechanism of photoprocesses generated by visible light-irradiation of the system riboflavin (Rf, vitamin B2) plus Thiamine (Th) and Thiamine pyrophosphate (ThDP), representing vitamin B1, was studied in pH 7 water. A weak dark complex vitamin B2-vitamin B1, with a mean value of 4 ± 0.4 M(-1) is formed. An intricate mechanism of competitive reactions operates upon photoirradiation, being the light only absorbed by Rf. Th and ThDP quench excited singlet and triplet states of Rf, with rate constants in the order of 10(9) and 10(6 ) M(-1 ) s(-1), respectively. With Vitamin B1 in a concentration similar to that of dissolved molecular oxygen in water, the quenching of triplet excited Rf by the latter is highly predominant, resulting in the generation of O(2)((1)Δ(g)). Superoxide radical anion was not detected under work conditions. A relatively slow O(2)((1)Δ(g))-mediated photodegradation of Th and ThDP was observed. Nevertheless, Th and especially ThDP behave as efficient physical deactivators of O(2)((1)Δ(g)). The thiazol structure in vitamin B1 appears as a good scavenger of this reactive oxygen species. This characteristic, that presents at vitamin B1 as a potential photoprotector of biological entities against O(2)((1)Δ(g)) attack, was been experimentally confirmed employing the protein lisozime as a photo-oxidizable target.

Kinetic study of the fast thermal cis-to-trans isomerisation of para-, ortho- and polyhydroxyazobenzenes.

The thermal cis-to-trans isomerisation process has been studied for a series of para-, ortho- and polyhydroxy-substituted azobenzenes in different solvents. The kinetics of the thermal back reaction for the p-hydroxy-substituted azobenzenes depend strongly on the nature of the solvent used, with relaxation times ranging from 200-300 milliseconds in ethanol to half an hour in toluene. Otherwise, the process rate is mainly independent of the solvent nature for the ortho substituted analogues. Polyhydroxy-substituted azobenzenes show very much faster kinetics than the para- and ortho- monohydroxyazoderivatives. With relaxation times of 6-12 milliseconds in ethanol, they are optimal molecules for designing fast optical switching devices. All the hydroxyazoderivatives thermally isomerise from the metastable cis form to the thermodynamically stable trans isomer through a rotational mechanism.

Fast isomerizing methyl iodide azopyridinium salts for molecular switches.

The usefulness of azopyridinium methyl iodide salts for designing new promising light-controlled molecular switches is presented. Large absorbance changes have been produced in the samples by irradiation with light at lambda = 355 nm. The thermal recovery of the initial state took place completely within 130-450 ms, which is much faster than that reported previously for other push-pull azobenzene-doped nematic mixtures.

Stability of flavonoids in the presence of riboflavin-photogenerated reactive oxygen species: a kinetic and mechanistic study on quercetin, morin and rutin.

Kinetic and mechanistic aspects on the stability of the flavones (FL) quercetin (Que), morin (Mor) and rutin (Rut), in methanolic solution and in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by visible light-promoted riboflavin (Rf, vitamin B(2)) photoirradiation were studied. The system was chosen as a model for the evaluation of the in vivo protective effect of biological targets by the flavones. The overall picture includes the vitamin as an endogenous natural photosensitizer. A systematic study on the effect of ROS on FL photostability shows that under work conditions Que is oxidized by singlet molecular oxygen (O(2)((1)Delta(g))), superoxide radical anion (O(2)(-)) and hydrogen peroxide; Mor is degraded by O(2)((1)Delta(g)) and O(2)(-) whereas Rut only reacts with O(2)((1)Delta(g)). Que and Rut, with an extremely poor overall rate constant, are mainly physical quenchers of O(2)((1)Delta(g)). Mor, with O(2)((1)Delta(g))-interception ability slightly lower than the recognized synthetic antioxidant trolox (Tx), behaves as a typical sacrificial scavenger provided that ca 80% of the collisions with O(2)((1)Delta(g)) cause its own degradation, whereas this parameter reaches around 50% in the case of Tx.

Photodegradation of the acaricide abamectin: a kinetic study.

The acaricide abamectin is a mixture of two colorless homologues in a molar ratio of at least 4:1 with the same structure of macrocyclic lactone. The kinetics of its degradation under direct (254 nm) and dye-sensitized (>400 nm) photoirradiation in methanol solution has been studied by UV-vis spectrophotometry, potentiometric detection of dissolved oxygen, stationary fluorescence, laser flash photolysis, and time-resolved detection of singlet molecular oxygen (O2((1)Delta(g))) phosphorescence. The results indicate that the degradation is very efficient under direct irradiation with UV light (254 nm), with a quantum yield of 0.23. On the contrary, under visible-light irradiation, using the natural pigment riboflavin or the synthetic dye rose bengal as sensitizers, the degradation is very inefficient and proceeds through a O2((1)Delta(g))-mediated mechanism, with a bimolecular rate constant for the overall O2((1)Delta(g)) quenching (the sum of physical and chemical quenching) of 5.5 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). This value is similar to those reported for the rate constants of the reactions of O2((1)Delta(g)) with isolated double bonds or conjugated dienes and points to similar processes in the case of abamectin.

Photodegradation of bisphenol A and related compounds under natural-like conditions in the presence of riboflavin: kinetics, mechanism and photoproducts.

The aerobic riboflavin (Rf)-sensitized photodegradation of the endocrine disruptor 4,4'-isopropylidenebisphenol (bisphenol A, BPA), and of the related compounds 4,4'-isopropylidenebis(2,6-dibromophenol) and 4,4'-isopropylidenebis(2,6-dimethylphenol) has been studied in water and water-methanol mixtures through visible-light continuous photolysis, polarographic detection of oxygen uptake, stationary and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, time-resolved near-IR phosphorescence detection and laser flash photolysis techniques. Bisphenols (BPs) quench excited singlet and triplet states of Rf, with rate constants close to the diffusion limit. BPs and dissolved molecular oxygen, employed in similar concentrations, competitively quench triplet excited Rf. As a consequence, superoxide radical anion and singlet molecular oxygen (O2(1Deltag)) are produced by electron- and energy-transfer processes, respectively, as demonstrated by auxiliary experiments employing selective quenchers of both oxidative species and the exclusive O2(1Deltag) generator Rose Bengal. As a global result, the photodegradation of Rf is retarded, whereas BPs are degraded, mainly by an O2(1Deltag)-mediated mechanism, which constitutes a relatively efficient process in the case of BPA. Oxidation, dimerization and fragmentation products have been identified in the photooxidation of BPA. Results indicate that BPs in natural waters can undergo spontaneous photodegradation under environmental conditions in the presence of adequate photosensitizers.

Vitamin B-sensitized photo-oxidation of dopamine.

Kinetics and mechanism of the photo-oxidation of the natural catecholamine-type neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) has been studied in aqueous solution, under aerobic conditions, in the presence of riboflavin (Rf, vitamin B(2)) as a photosensitizer. Results indicate the formation of a weak dark complex Rf-DA, with a mean apparent association constant K(ass) = 30 m(-1), only detectable at DA concentrations much higher than those employed in photochemical experiments. An intricate mechanism of competitive reactions operates upon photoirradiation. DA quenches excited singlet and triplet states of Rf, with rate constants of 4.2 x 10(9) and 2.2 x 10(9) m(-1) s(-1), respectively. With the catecholamine in a concentration similar to that of dissolved molecular oxygen in air-saturated water, DA and oxygen competitively quench the triplet excited state of Rf, generating superoxide radical anion (O(2)) and singlet molecular oxygen (O(2)((1)Delta(g))) by processes initiated by electron and energy-transfer mechanisms, respectively. Rate constants values of 1.9 x 10(8) and 6.6 x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1) have been obtained for the overall and reactive (chemical) interaction of DA with O(2)((1)Delta(g)). The presence of superoxide dismutase increases both the observed rates of aerobic DA photo-oxidation and oxygen uptake, due to its known catalytic scavenging of O(2), a species that could revert the overall photo-oxidation effect, according to the proposed reaction mechanism. As in most of the catecholamine oxidative processes described in the literature, aminochrome is the DA oxidation product upon visible light irradiation in the presence of Rf. It is generated with a quantum yield of 0.05.

Kinetics and mechanism of the sensitized photodegradation of uracil--modeling the fate of related herbicides in aqueous environments.

The dye-sensitized photodegradation of uracil (UR), the parent compound of several profusely employed herbicides, has been studied as a model of their environmental fate. In order to mimic conditions frequently found in nature, aqueous solutions of UR have been irradiated with visible light in the presence of the natural sensitizer riboflavin (Rf). The results indicate that UR is photostable in acid media, but is quickly degraded in pH 7 or pH 9 solutions, where singlet molecular oxygen [O2(1Delta(g))] and, to a lesser extent, superoxide radical anion (O2*-)-both species photogenerated from triplet excited Rf, 3Rf*-participate in the photodegradation. At pH 7, UR is slowly degraded through an O2*- -mediated mechanism, whereas Rf disappears through its reaction with O2(1Delta(g)) and, in the form of 3Rf*, with UR. On the contrary, at pH 9 Rf is photoprotected through two processes: its regeneration from the formed Rf radical species-a back electron transfer that also produces O2*- -and the elimination from the medium of O2(1Delta(g)) by its reaction with UR. The overall result of the preservation of ground state Rf is the continuity of the photosensitized process and, hence, of the UR degradation. Media with higher pH values could not be employed due to the fast photodegradation of Rf. With rose bengal (RB) as photosensitizer, the rate constants found for the overall interaction between UR and the photogenerated O2(1Delta(g)) were in the range 5 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (at pH 7) to 1.3 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) (in 1 M NaOH aqueous solution, mainly physical quenching). The maximum O2(1Delta(g)0-mediated photooxidation efficiencies with RB were reached at pH 11, where only the O2(1Delta(g)0-reactive quenching with UR was observed.

Kinetic study on the photostability of riboflavin in the presence of barbituric acid.

The photochemical fate of riboflavin (vitamin B2) in the presence of barbituric acid was examined employing polarographic detection of dissolved oxygen and steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. Under visible light, riboflavin reacts with barbituric acid--the latter being transparent to this type of photo-irradiation--via radicals and reactive oxygen species, such as singlet molecular oxygen [O2(1delta(g))] and superoxide radical anion, which are generated from the excited triplet state of the vitamin. As a result, both the vitamin and barbituric acid are photodegraded. Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the photoreactions of riboflavin in the presence of barbituric acid indicate the excellent quenching ability of the latter towards O2(1delta(g)).

Dye-sensitized photodegradation of the fungicide carbendazim and related benzimidazoles.

The present work studies the visible-light-promoted photodegradation of the colorless fungicide carbendazim (methyl 2-benzimidazolecarbamate) and several 2-substituted benzimidazoles (SBZ's), in water or water-methanol solution, in the presence of air and, as a photosensitizer, the synthetic xanthene dye Rose Bengal (RB) or the natural pigment riboflavin (Rf). The results indicate that the degradation of each particular SBZ depends on its chemical structure and on the sensitizer employed. In the presence of RB, the degradation always operates via a singlet molecular oxygen (O(2)((1)Delta(g)))-mediated mechanism, through a highly efficient process, as deduced from the comparison of the rate constants for physical and chemical quenching of O(2)((1)Delta(g)). In the presence of Rf, the visible-light irradiation of any of the studied SBZ's produces a series of competitive processes that depend on the relative concentrations of Rf and SBZ. These processes include the quenching of excited singlet and triplet Rf states by the SBZ and the generation of both O(2)((1)Delta(g)) and superoxide radical anion (O(2)(-)), the latter generated by electron transfer from excited Rf species to the dissolved oxygen. The overall result is the photodegradation of the SBZ and the photoprotection of the sensitizer.

A kinetic study on the inhibitory action of sympathomimetic drugs towards photogenerated oxygen active species. The case of phenylephrine.

Kinetics and mechanism of the aerobic Riboflavin (Rf, vitamin B2) sensitized photodegradation of Phenylephrine (Phen), a phenolamine belonging to the sympathomimetic drugs family, has been studied in water, employing continuous photolysis, polarographic detection of oxygen uptake, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, time-resolved IR-phosphorescence and laser flash photolysis. Results indicate the formation of a weak dark complex Rf-Phen, with an apparent association constant of 5.5+/-0.5M(-1), only detectable at Phen concentrations much higher than those employed in the photochemical experiments. Under irradiation, an intricate mechanism of competitive reactions operates. Phen quenches excited singlet and triplet states of Rf, with rate constants of 3.33+/-0.08 and 1.60+/-0.03x10(9)M(-1)s(-1), respectively. With the sympathomimetic drug in a concentration similar to that of dissolved molecular oxygen in water, Phen and oxygen competitively quench triplet excited Rf, generating superoxide radical anion and singlet molecular oxygen (O2((1)Deltag)) by processes initiated by electron- and energy-transfer mechanisms respectively. As a global result, the photodegradation of the vitamin, a known process taking place from its excited triplet state, is retarded, whereas the phenolamine, practically unreactive towards these oxidative species, behaves as a highly efficient physical deactivator of O2((1)Deltag). The phenolamine structure in Phen appears as an excellent scavenger of activated oxygen species, comparatively superior, in kinetic terms, to some commercial phenolic antioxidants.

Kinetics and mechanism of the vitamin B2-sensitized photooxidation of isoproterenol.

The sensitized photooxidation promoted by daylight-absorbing compounds appears as a plausible course to produce the photodegradation of catecholamines. We report the kinetics and mechanism of vitamin B2 (riboflavin [Rf])-sensitized photooxidation of isoproterenol (Iso), a synthetic sympathomimetic drug structurally related to epinephrine, using water as a solvent. A weak dark complex Rf-Iso is formed, only detectable at relatively high Iso concentrations (>10 mM), with a mean value of 13 +/- 3 M(-1) for the apparent association constant. Under aerobic sensitizing conditions (Rf approximately 0.02 mM and Iso approximately 0.5 mM) two oxidative mechanisms operate, mediated by singlet molecular oxygen (O2(1delta g)) and superoxide radical anion (O2*-). Our analysis shows that the main reaction pathway is an electron transfer-mediated quenching of Rf excited triplet state (3Rf*) by Iso. It produces the species Iso*+ and Rf*-. The latter, in a subsequent reaction path, generates O2*-, which is mainly responsible for Iso photooxygenation. In a less-important process, energy transfer of the 3Rf* to dissolved oxygen generates O2(1delta g). The kinetic balance between chemical and physical quenching of O2(1delta g) by Iso indicates that the process is largely dominated by the physical, not chemical, interaction. The results, which can be extrapolated to an in vivo condition, show the susceptibility of Iso to undergo visible light-induced photodegradation in the presence of dye sensitizers present in the environment.

Interaction of UO2 2+ with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles: association of phenols to micelles through fluorescence quenching data.

Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (TRLIF) has been used to study the interaction of uranyl ion with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles in H(3)PO(4) 1 M. The titration curve consists of two curved regions with different slopes, one of them more pronounced at low concentration of SDS and the other, with a less pronounced positive slope at larger [SDS] until a plateau is reached. The fluorescence quenching of uranyl ion by para-substituted phenol compounds was studied by TRLIF and steady-state emission intensity measurements. The results were interpreted in terms of binding of phenolic compounds to the micelle. The binding constant (K(Q)) as well as the entrance and exit rate constants were determined for all the quenchers used.