Photosensitized degradation of bisphenol A involving reactive oxygen species in the presence of humic substances.

The photodegradation of endocrine disrupter bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of natural humic substances (HS) under simulated solar irradiation was studied. BPA underwent slow direct photolysis in neutral pure water, but rapid photosensitized degradation in four kinds of HS, following pseudo-first-order reaction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed from HS were determined, including OH, (1)O(2) and H(2)O(2). The enhancement of BPA degradation by adding Fe(III) was primarily attributed to the oxidation of OH produced from photo-Fenton-like reaction. And the joint effects of HS and nitrate ions coexisting on BPA degradation appeared to depend on respective concentration levels. The effects of dissolved oxygen suggested that the energy transfer between excited state of SRFA and NOFA likely occurred, while the abstraction of phenolic hydrogen atom to reactive triplet state of NOHA possibly took place. Based on the structural analyses of main intermediates and degradation products of BPA detected by GC-MS, the possible photodegradation pathways were proposed, involving the alky cleavage, alkyl oxidation and OH addition. This study gave a better understanding for the photochemical transformation of BPA induced by ROS generated from natural water composition under sunlight irradiation.

Photodegradation of bisphenol A in Fe(III)-oxalate complexes solution.

The aqueous photodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of Fe(III)-oxalate complexes (Fe(III)-Ox), which are common compositions of natural water, was investigated in this study. BPA underwent rapid indirect photolysis in Fe(III)-Ox solution under simulated solar irradiation, proceeding pseudo-first-order kinetics. The photolysis rate increased with decreasing pH or initial BPA level and increasing Fe(III)/oxalate concentration ratio. Hydroxyl radicals (*OH), which were generated from the photochemical processes of Fe(III)-Ox complexes and contributed to the photooxidation of BPA, were determined by molecular probe and electron spin resonance (ESR) methods with the steady-state concentration of 2.56 x 10(-14) mol/L. Superoxide anion radical (O2*-) was considered as the precursor of *OH and qualitatively determined by adding nitro blue tetrazolium as well as ESR experiments. Based on the structural analysis of the intermediate photoproducts of BPA in Fe(III)-Ox complexes solution, the possible degradation pathways of BPA were proposed, involving *OH addition, alkyl scission and alky oxidation. The results indicate that the photochemical reactivity of Fe(III) may affect the environmental fate of BPA in natural water significantly.

Determination of hydroxyl radicals with salicylic acid in aqueous nitrate and nitrite solutions.

The qualitative and quantitative analyses of reactive oxygen species are essential to determine their steady-state concentration and related reaction mechanisms in environmental aquatic systems. In this study, salicylic acid was employed as an innovative molecular probe of hydroxyl radical(OH) generated in aqueous nitrate and nitrite solutions through photochemical reactions. Kinetic studies showed that the steady-state concentrations of OH in aqueous NO3- (10 mmol/L, pH = 5) and NO2- (10 mmol/L, pH = 5) solutions under ultraviolet irradiation were at a same magnitude, 10(-15) mol/L. Apparent quantum yields of OH at 313 nm were measured as 0.011 and 0.07 for NO3- and NO2- respectively, all comparable to the results of previous studies.

[Degradation of diuron by persulfate oxidation activated by EDTA-ferrous ion in aqueous system].

The method of diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea] degradation by persulfate oxidation activated by EDTA-ferrous ion in aqueous system was conducted. Based on both of the degradation performance and the operating costs, optimal reaction condition was proposed. Operating at K2S2O8 initial concentration 2.0 mmol x L(-1), Fe(II) initial concentration 1.0 mmol x L(-1), EDTA initial concentration 0.5 mmol x L(-1), reaction time 300 min and pH = 7.0, about 67.6% of 0.1 mmol x L(1) diuron was degradation. Hydroxyl radicals and sulfate radicals produced in the system were determined by molecular probes (ethanol and tert-butanol) methods. The degradation products of diuron were identified with LC/MS methods and the degradation pathways of diuron were discussed.

[Kinetic study on photodegradation of acid red 3B catalyzed by heteropoly acid].

The kinetics of degradation of Acid Red 3B photocatalyzed by PW12O(40)3- was studied in aqueous solution. Light intensity, dissolved oxygen, added amount of the catalyst, and the initial concentration of substrate had positive effects on the photodegradation rate of Acid Red 3B. The results were explained by Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, implying there was precomplexation between catalyst and substrate. Results compared to UV/TiO2 method indicated that heteropoly acid is an efficient photocatalyst.