Degradation of phenol and chlorophenols by sunlight and microbes in estuarine water

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00152a006· OSTI ID:6990093

Hwang, H M; Hodson, R E; Lee, R F

The rates of photolysis and microbial degradation of phenol, p-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol in estuarine water were determined. Photolysis was the primary transformation process for the polychlorinated phenols with photolysis rate constants in surface estuarine water ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 h/sup -1/ and half-lives ranging from 0.6-3 h. Dichlorophenol photolysis rates were 20-80% higher in estuarine water than in distilled water, indicating a photosensitized reaction. There was no microbial (dark) degradation of polychlorinated phenols during short incubation periods (up to 3 days). The photoproducts of polychlorinated phenols were rapidly degraded by microbes. Microbial degradation was the primary process for transformation of phenol and p-chlorophenol. In the summer the microbial and photolysis transformation rate constants for phenol were 0.03 (t/sub 1/2/ = 28 h) and 0.016 h/sup -1/ (t/sub 1/2/ = 43 h), respectively. Winter photolysis and microbial degradation rates were lower than the summer values. 36 references, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens
• OSTI ID: 6990093
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 20:10; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
ESTUARIES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHENOLS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS