Photochemical generation of reactive intermediates from urban-waste bio-organic substances under UV and solar irradiation

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017 Aug;24(22):18470-18478. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-9310-0. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Abstract

Singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radicals (OH), and excited triplet states of organic matter (3OM*) play a key role in the degradation of pollutants in aquatic environments. The formation rates and quantum yields (Φ) of these reactive intermediates (RI) through photosensitized reactions of dissolved organic matter (DOM) have been reported in the literature for decades. Urban biowaste-derived substances (UW-BOS), a form of organic matter derived from vegetative and urban waste, have recently been shown to be efficient sensitizers in the photo-degradation of different contaminants. Nevertheless, no quantitative measurements of photo-oxidant generation by UW-BOS have been reported. In this study, the formation quantum yields of 1O2 and OH, as well as quantum yield coefficients of TMP degradation (indicative of 3OM* formation), were quantified for two UW-BOS samples, under 254-nm UV radiation or simulated sunlight and compared to a DOM standard from the Suwanee River (SRNOM). Values of Φ for UW-BOS samples ranged from Φ(+1O2) = 8.0 to 8.8 × 10-3, Φ(+OH) = 4.1 to 4.3 × 10-6, and f TMP = 1.22 to 1.23 × 102 L Einstein-1 under simulated sunlight and from Φ(+1O2) = 1.4 to 2.3 × 10-2, Φ(+OH) = 1.3 to 3.5 × 10-3, and f TMP = 3.3 to 3.9 × 102 L Einstein-1 under UV. Although UW-BOS are not necessarily better than natural DOM regarding photosensitizing properties, they do sensitize the production of RI and could potentially be used in engineered treatment systems.

Keywords: Aquatic environments; Photo-oxidation processes; Quantum yield; Reactive intermediates; Simulated sunlight amicarbazone; UV radiation; Urban-waste bio-organic substances.

MeSH terms

  • Hydroxyl Radical / chemistry*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Oxidants / chemistry*
  • Photolysis
  • Rivers / chemistry
  • Singlet Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Sunlight*
  • Ultraviolet Rays*
  • Urbanization
  • Waste Products / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / radiation effects

Substances

  • Oxidants
  • Waste Products
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Singlet Oxygen
  • Hydroxyl Radical