title: Aqueous photodegradation of 4-tert-butylphenol: By-products, degradation pathway and theoretical calculation assessment.
abstract: 4-tert-butylphenol (4-t-BP), an endocrine disrupting chemical, is widely distributed in natural bodies of water but is difficult to biodegrade. In this study, we focused on the transformation of 4-t-BP in photo-initiated degradation processes. The steady-state photolysis and laser flash photolysis (LFP) experiments were conducted in order to elucidate its degradation mechanism. Identification of products was performed using the GC-MS, LC-MS and theoretical calculation techniques. The oxidation pathway of 4-t-BP by hydroxyl radical (HO) was also studied and H2O2 was added to produce HO. 4-tert-butylcatechol and 4-tert-butylphenol dimer were produced in 4-t-BP direct photolysis. 4-tert-butylcatechol and hydroquinone were produced by the oxidation of HO. But the formation mechanism of 4-tert-butylcatechol in the two processes was different. The benzene ring was fractured in 4-t-BP oxidation process and 29% of TOC was degraded after 16h irradiation.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Hongche
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Jianfu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: wbdong@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000737:chemistry*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D010782:Photolysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; C006862:butylphen
keywords: Advanced oxidation process; Alkylphenol; HO; LFP; Quantum yield