KINETIC-STUDY OF UV PEROXIDATION OF BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL) ETHER IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Experimental data from the UV peroxidation of bis(2-chloroethyl) ether (DCEE) in aqueous solution indicated the rate equation is 0.163[DCEE] (0.61)[H2O2](0.54). Important intermediates identified are 2-chloroeth yl acetate, an enolic tautomer of 8-chloroethyl acetate, 2-chloroethox yethene, 2-chloroethanol, acetaldehyde, ethylene oxide, and chloroethe ne. All the intermediates could be reduced to undetectable levels afte r 30 min of-irradiation when DCEE/H2O2 initial ratio of 1/10 was used. A reaction mechanism with complex pathways through both the attack of hydroxy free radical and the direct photolysis on DCEE was proposed. Intermediate identification and the rate equation suggested that the p athways in which DCEE is attacked by hydroxy free radicals are predomi nant. The rate equation derived from this mechanism predicted the pero xidation of DCEE is half-order with respect to both DCEE and H2O2 conc entrations.