title: Chemical and photochemical degradation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in liquid systems - A review.
abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are brominated flame retardants which have received a great deal of attention due to their persistence, potential to bioaccumulate and possible toxic effects. PBDEs have been globally detected in humans, wildlife and environment, highlighting the urgency of looking for effective removal technologies to mitigate their spread and accumulation in the environment. Among all environmental compartments, the water has raised particular attention. This paper aims to provide information about the suitability of the main degradation processes investigated to date (photolysis, zerovalent iron and TiO2 photocatalysis) for the degradation of PBDEs in water matrices. The most relevant criteria behind the design of a system for such purpose are discussed in detail for each individual process. The comparative analysis suggests that the oxidative degradation by TiO2 is the most appropriated technology to treat waters contaminated with PBDEs because higher debromination and mineralization degrees are achieved, preventing the formation/accumulation of lower brominated PBDE congeners and promoting the cracking of aromatic cores.
authors.affiliation: LEPABE - Laboratory for Process, Environmental, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: mssantos@fe.up.pt.
authors.forename: Mónica S F
authors.initials: MSF
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: LEPABE - Laboratory for Process, Environmental, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Arminda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: LEPABE - Laboratory for Process, Environmental, Biotechnology and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: mmdeira@fe.up.pt.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Madeira
mesh_terms: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D007501:Iron
keywords: Degradation mechanisms; Photocatalysis; Photolysis; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Zerovalent iron