Abstract: The effects of light intensity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH value and hu mic acid on the degradation of α-naphthol were investigated, respectively, by means of indoor and outdoor simulation experiments. The quantum yields of the p hotoreact ions of α-naphthol in natural water were determined. On the basis of which its theory half-lives of photodegradation of α-naphthol were deduced also, whi ch were coincident with the actually determination values.

Key words: α-naphthol, photodegradation, quantum yield