Abstract:

The photolysis of phenol in a UV/H2O2 system in ice was investigated and the effects of pH value, light intensity and the initial concentration of H₂O₂ on the photolysis of phenol were discussed. In addition, Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) generated during the photolysis of phenol were trapped by dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), thus the effect of·OH radicals on the photolysis of phenol was studied. The results show that H₂O₂ significantly increased ·OH generation and enhanced the photolysis of phenol in ice. Changing light intensity, pH value and the initial concentration of H2O2, the photolysis rate of phenol would increased with the increase of·OH generation. The addition of NO^-₂ and NO^-₃ inhibited the generation of·OH and the photolysis of phenol. But SO^2-₄ had no impact on·OH generation and the photolysis of phenol. Though CO^2-₃ and HCO^-₃ decreased ·OH generation, they also had no impact on the photolysis, which might be due to the other radicals generated in the system.

Key words: phenol, photolysis, hydroxyl radical, ice, hydrogen peroxide