Triplet state dissolved organic matter in aquatic photochemistry: reaction mechanisms, substrate scope, and photophysical properties

Excited triplet states of chromophoric dissolved organic matter ((CDOM)-C-3*) play a major role among the reactive intermediates produced upon absorption of sunlight by surface waters. After more than two decades of research on the aquatic photochemistry of (CDOM)-C-3*, the need for improving the knowledge about the photophysical and photochemical properties of these elusive reactive species remains considerable. This critical review examines the efforts to date to characterize (CDOM)-C-3*. Information on (CDOM)-C-3* relies mainly on the use of probe compounds because of the difficulties associated with directly observing (CDOM)-C-3* using transient spectroscopic methods. Singlet molecular oxygen (O-1(2)), which is a product of the reaction between (CDOM)-C-3* and dissolved oxygen, is probably the simplest indicator that can be used to estimate steady-state concentrations of (CDOM)-C-3*. There are two major modes of reaction of (CDOM)-C-3* with substrates, namely triplet energy transfer or oxidation (via electron transfer, proton-coupled electron transfer or related mechanisms). Organic molecules, including several environmental contaminants, that are susceptible to degradation by these two different reaction modes are reviewed. It is proposed that through the use of appropriate sets of probe compounds and model photosensitizers an improved estimation of the distribution of triplet energies and one-electron reduction potentials of (CDOM)-C-3* can be achieved.