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Sunlight photolysis rates of selected netural azaarenes in aqueous coal-oil systems

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5984789

Photolysis by sunlight is an important environmental degradation process for many chemicals present in aqueous systems. Photolytic reactions in complex mixtures like aqueous coal-oil are likely to be affected by sensitizers or inhibitors that may be present in highly aromatic organic matrices. We exposed aqueous coal-oil to sunlight and screened the major components for degradation. The neutral azaarenes (NAA) indole, carbazole, and their alkyl derivatives were among the most rapidly degraded, along with several polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Also, we exposed six NAA individually in pure water to measure the effect of the coal-oil matrix on their photolytic behavior. In summary, indoles undergo autocatalyzed oxidation in pure water initiated by direct photolysis. In aqueous CRM-1, indoles undergo sensitized photolysis initiated by other matrix components at rates similar to those in pure water. Carbazole and selected PAH have reduced rates in aqueous CRM-1 possibly caused by triplet state quenching. 5 references, 1 figure, 1 table.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA); Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor (USA). Dept. of Environmental and Industrial Health
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5984789
Report Number(s):
CONF-850417-7; ON: DE85004077
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English