OXIDATIVE DECOMPOSITION OF PENTACHLOROPHENOL IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

OH-radical-induced dechlorination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been studies pulse and gamma-radiolytically. OH radicals react with PCP by both electron transfer (53%) and addition followed by very rapid HCl-e limination to form phenoxyl radicals. The phenoxyl radicals decay to f orm products (e.g, chloranil) that unstable in alkaline aqueous soluti on and release some more Cl-, therefore G(Cl-) is high. Primary HPLC-M S analysis reveals that some quinones among the final products, whose toxicity remains unclear. Ozone can also oxidize PCP very rapidly, and this oxidation may destroy the benzene ring of PCP. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.