Iron-catalytic photochemical reactions of benzoic acid: Product identification and reaction mechanisms

Y. Deng*, H. Chen, K. Zhang, T. Wu, Matthew D Krzyaniak, A. Wellons, D. Bolla, K. Douglas, Y. Zuo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Iron-catalyzed photochemical oxidation of benzoic acid, one of the major photodegradation products of petroleum hydrocarbons, was studied with sunlight and monochromatic light in a wavelength range of 254-419 nm. The photochemical degradation of benzoic acid occurred at 245 nm either in the presence or in the absence of iron(III). Addition of iron(III) greatly enhanced the photodegradation of benzoic acid at 350 nm, 419 nm, and under solar irradiation. The major reaction products were monohydroxybenzoic acids and ferrous iron species. The proposed reaction mechanism included photoexcitation of iron(III) hydroxide complexes to form iron(II) species and corresponding hydroxyl radicals that attack ortho, meta, and para positions of benzoic acid to form monohydroxybenzoic acids and hydrogen peroxide. The monohydroxybenzoic acids were attacked further by hydroxyl and surperhydroxyl radicals to yield dihydroxybenzoic acids. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 229th ACS National Meeting (San Diego, CA 3/13-17/2005).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)226-228
Number of pages3
JournalACS, Division of Environmental Chemistry - Preprints of Extended Abstracts
Volume45
Issue number1
StatePublished - Dec 1 2005
EventACS, Division of Environmental Chemistry - Preprints of Extended Abstracts - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 13 2005Mar 17 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Energy

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