A method for a photochemically induced mineralization of CCl(4) is described in which use is made of reductive radicals. The UVC-photolysis (254nm) of H(2)O(2) added to aqueous solutions of CCl(4) is leading to the homolysis of the oxidant yielding hydroxyl radicals (HO()) that subsequently react with added methanol to generate hydroxymethyl radicals (()CH(2)OH). The latter radicals initiate mineralization of CCl(4) by reductive C-Cl bond splitting. CHCl(3), C(2)Cl(4) and C(2)Cl(6) were found as reaction intermediates, but are quantitatively depleted in a parallel oxidative reaction manifold leading to mineralization. Carbon dioxide radical anion, CO(2)(-), an intermediate in the mineralization pathway of methanol, is also shown to initiate the mineralization of CCl(4) by reductive dechlorination. A reaction mechanism is proposed and validated with computer simulations of all the experimental results.
Mineralization of CCl(4) by the UVC-photolysis of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of methanol. Publishing Authors By Initials