Generating singlet oxygen bubbles: a new mechanism for gas-liquid oxidations in water

Langmuir. 2012 Feb 7;28(5):3053-60. doi: 10.1021/la204583v. Epub 2012 Jan 20.

Abstract

Laser-coupled microphotoreactors were developed to bubble singlet oxygen [(1)O(2) ((1)Δ(g))] into an aqueous solution containing an oxidizable compound. The reactors consisted of custom-modified SMA fiberoptic receptacles loaded with 150 μm silicon phthalocyanine glass sensitizer particles, where the particles were isolated from direct contact with water by a membrane adhesively bonded to the bottom of each device. A tube fed O(2) gas to the reactor chambers. In the presence of O(2), singlet oxygen was generated by illuminating the sensitizer particles with 669 nm light from an optical fiber coupled to the top of the reactor. The generated (1)O(2) was transported through the membrane by the O(2) stream and formed bubbles in solution. In solution, singlet oxygen reacted with probe compounds (9,10-anthracene dipropionate dianion, trans-2-methyl-2-pentanoate anion, N-benzoyl-D,L-methionine, or N-acetyl-D,L-methionine) to give oxidized products in two stages. The early stage was rapid and showed that (1)O(2) transfer occurred via bubbles mainly in the bulk water solution. The later stage was slow; it arose only from (1)O(2)-probe molecule contact at the gas/liquid interface. A mechanism is proposed that involves (1)O(2) mass transfer and solvation, where smaller bubbles provide better penetration of (1)O(2) into the flowing stream due to higher surface-to-volume contact between the probe molecules and (1)O(2).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Gases / chemistry
  • Indoles / chemical synthesis
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Lasers
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organosilicon Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organosilicon Compounds / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photochemistry / instrumentation
  • Photochemistry / methods
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Singlet Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Gases
  • Indoles
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Water
  • silicon phthalocyanine
  • Singlet Oxygen