Mechanism of the reaction between hydroxyl radicals and aliphatic acids in aqueous solution: Effects of hydroxyl groups
Karpel-Vel-Leitner, N.; Dore, M.
Environmental Technology 16(8): 753-763
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0959-3330 Accession: 009003289
The aim of this work was to study the mechanism of oxidation of dicarboxylic acids by hydroxyl radicals resulting from the photolysis of hydrogen peroxide. Experiments have been carried out with aqueous solutions (C-o apprxeq 1 mmol cntdot L-1) of malonic acid, hydroxymalonic, ketomalonic, succinic, malic and tartaric acids. Results showed that in the presence of dissolved oxygen, OH-o reacts with hydroxyacids by H-abstraction at the carbon atom carrying the hydroxyl group. The radical formed fixes one oxygen molecule and then releases one HO-2. radical. On the other hand, the reaction of OH. radicals with the unsubstituted analogues leads to a C-C bond cleavage. In each case, the mechanism proposed involves oxygen consumption.