INFLUENCE OF PERMITTIVITY OF THE NONAQUEOUS PHASE ON WATER PHOTOOXIDATION AT INTERFACES BETWEEN IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDRATED CHLOROPHYLL OLIGOMERS

In water photooxidation in an octane-water system containing hydrated chlorophyll a oligomers, ferricyanide as a water-soluble electron acce ptor, and a buffer, the oxygen yields were studied polarographically a s a function of 2,4-dinitrophenol concentration. The rates of oxygen e volution were compared with the changes in Volta potential at the inte rface between the two liquid phases. A linear correlation was observed between the rates of oxygen evolution and the photopotenuals. It was seen when studying the photopotentials and rates of oxygen evolution a s functions of permittivity of the nonaqueous phase that both the reac tion rates and the potential drops decrease with increasing permittivi ty. The lifetime of chlorophyll in water photooxidation was measured.