Analytical Sciences

Identification of Electrical Degradation Products of 4-Chlorophenol in Water

Jongki HONG,*  Do-Gyun KIM,* Jung-Ju SEO,* Chulhyun LEE,** Chaejoon CHUNG,** and Kwang-Wook KIM***

*Hazardous Substance Research Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, 126-16 Anam-Dong, Sungbuk-Ku, Seoul 136-701, Korea
**Nucleic Magnetic Resonance Research Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, 52 Eoeun-Dong, Yoosung-Ku, Daejeon, 305-333, Korea
***Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yoosung-Ku, Dukjin-Dong, Daejeon, Korea

The electrical decomposition of 4-chlorophenol in water was examined with iridium dioxide doped on a titanium electrode. A number of electrical degradation products of 4-chlorophenol, such as hydroquinone and chlorohydroquinone via the addition of hydroxyl radicals, and dichlorophenol through addition of chlorine radical, were observed as major products. Moreover, hydroxylated chlorobiphenylethers, hydroxylated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furans and hydroxylated chlorobiphenyls formed by a dimerization process during the electrolysis process of 4-chlorophenol were also observed. On the other hand, benzoquinone, muconic acid and aldehyde derivatives that were further oxidative products of hydroquinone formed by photocatalysis process, were not observed. The electrical decomposition products of 4-chlorophenol were trimethylsilylated and then identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The degradation rate of 4-chlorophenol in water by iridium oxide electrode was measured against the electrical process duration. After iridium electrical process for 120 min, about 50% of 4-chlorophenol was converted into a number of products through oxidation processes. On the basis of the identified products, the degradation pathways of 4-chlorophenol under electrolysis process were proposed.

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