title: Photochemistry of peroxoborates: borate inhibition of the photodecomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
abstract: The UV absorbance and photochemical decomposition kinetics of hydrogen peroxide in borate/boric acid buffers were investigated as a function of pH, total peroxide concentration, and total boron concentration. At higher pH borate/boric acid inhibits the photodecomposition of hydrogen peroxide (molar absorptivity and quantum yield of H(2)O(2) and HO(2) (-), (19.0+/-0.3) M(-1) cm(-1) and 1, and (237+/-7) M(-1) cm(-1) and 0.8+/-0.1, respectively). The results are consistent with the equilibrium formation of the anions monoperoxoborate, K(BOOH)=[H(+)][HOOB(OH)(3) (-)]/([B(OH)(3)][H(2)O(2)]), 2.0 x 10(-8), R. Pizer, C. Tihal, Inorg. Chem. 1987, 26, 3639-3642, and monoperoxodiborate, K(BOOB)=[BOOB(2-)]/([B(OH)(4) (-)][HOOB(OH)(3) (-)]), 1.0+/-0.3 or 4.3+/-0.9, depending upon the conditions, with molar absorptivity, (19+/-1) M(-1) cm(-1) and (86+/-15) M(-1) cm(-1), respectively, and respective quantum yields, 1.1+/-0.1 and 0.04+/-0.04. The low quantum yield of monoperoxodiborate is discussed in terms of the slower diffusion apart of incipient (.)OB(OH)(3) (-) radicals than may be possible for (.)OH radicals, or a possible oxygen-bridged cyclic structure of the monoperoxodiborate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: D Martin
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Davies