DEGRADATION OF 4-CHLOROPHENOL BY PHOTOLYTIC OXIDATION

The degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) by photolytic oxidation with ultraviolet light and ozone has been studied in a laboratory photoreactor. Ultraviolet irradiation on its own produced negligible degradation of 4-CP. Some degradation of 4-CP was obtained by ozonolysis without u.v. radiation. The mineralization of 4-CP to carbon dioxide and water was most effective when the organic was subjected to photolytic oxidation with u.v./ozone. The degradation kinetics, measured in terms of the rate of reduction of total organic carbon (TOC), was found to be first order with respect to TOC. The rate constant, however, is a function of absorbed radiation, a parameter which should be included in the modelling of the photolytic reaction kinetics.