Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1997, 62, 1843-1852
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19971843

Photoinitiated Degradation of 4-Chlorophenoxyacetic Acid by Hydrogen Peroxide; Photocatalytic Effects of Fe(III) Compounds

Stanislav Luňáka, Jiřina Brodilováa and Jacques Muzartb

a Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
b Unité Mixte de Recherche "Réactions Sélectives et Applications", CNRS, Université de Reims Champagne - Ardenne, B.P. 1039, 51687 Reims Cedex, France

Abstract

Photolysis of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA) and the effect of Fe(III) compounds on photochemical oxidative degradation of 4-CPA by hydrogen peroxide were studied. Whereas degradation initiated by 254 nm radiation is affected only moderately by the presence of Fe(III) compounds the reaction initiated by VIS radiation (high-pressure sodium lamp) is photocatalyzed and photosensitized by Fe(III) compounds very markedly. 4-Chlorophenol (4-CP) and phenol were detected as the main degradation intermediates. Formation of phenol prevails in the absence of oxidation agent, 4-CP is the main product in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Keywords: Photooxidation; Photocatalysis; Photolysis; Pesticide degradation; Hydrogen peroxide; 4-Chlorophenoxyacetic acid.