title: Insights into perfluorooctane sulfonate photodegradation in a catalyst-free aqueous solution.
abstract: Photodegradation in the absence of externally added chemicals could be an attractive solution for the removal of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in aqueous environment, but the low decomposition rate presents a severe challenge and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that PFOS could be effectively degraded in a catalyst-free aqueous solution via a reduction route. Under appropriate pH and temperature conditions, a rapid PFOS photodegradation, with a pseudo-first-order decomposition rate constant of 0.91 h(-1), was achieved. In addition, hydrated electrons were considered to be the major photo-generated reductive species responsible for PFOS photodegradation in this system. Its production and reduction ability could be significantly affected by the environmental conditions such as pH, temperature and presence of oxidative species. This study gives insights into the PFOS photodegradation process and may provide useful information for developing catalyst-free photodegradation systems for decomposing PFOS and other persistent water contaminants.
authors: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China [2] USTC-CityU joint Advanced Research Center, Suzhou, China [3] State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Xian-Jin
authors: XJ
authors: Lyu
authors: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China [2] USTC-CityU joint Advanced Research Center, Suzhou, China.
authors: Wen-Wei
authors: WW
authors: Li
authors: 1] USTC-CityU joint Advanced Research Center, Suzhou, China [2] State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Paul K S
authors: PK
authors: Lam
authors: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China [2] USTC-CityU joint Advanced Research Center, Suzhou, China.
authors: Han-Qing
authors: HQ
authors: Yu
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010782:Photolysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D013696:Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid