Effects of fulvic acid concentration and origin on photodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous solution: importance of active oxygen.

Abstract

With an Xe arc lamp house as simulated sunlight, the influences of fulvic acid (FA) concentration and origins on photodegradation of acenaphthene, fluorine, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene in aqueous solution have been studied. Similar effects of FAs, collected from five places around China, on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) photodegradation have been observed. Active oxygen was of significance in PAH photodegradation with the presence of FAs. For systems with 1.25 mg L(-1) FAs, the contributions of 8*OH to PAH photodegradation rates were from 33% to 69%. FAs had two opposite effects, i.e., stimulating the generation of active oxygen and advancing PAH photodegradation; competing with PAHs for energy and photons and restraining PAH photodegradation. Generally, photodegradation rates of the 5 PAHs decreased with the increase of FAs concentration; except fluoranthene and pyrene were advanced in solutions with low FA concentration. The influences of FA concentration on PAH photodegradation were more significant than FA origin.

• Authors: Xinghui Xia, Gongchen Li, Zhifeng Yang, Yumin Chen, Gordon H Huang
• Journal: Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) (Environ Pollut) Vol. 157 Issue 4 Pg. 1352-9 (Apr 2009) ISSN: 1873-6424 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19117648 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzopyrans
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Water Pollutants, Chemical
• fulvic acid

Topics

• Benzopyrans (chemistry)
• Ecology (methods)
• Photolysis
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (chemistry)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (chemistry)
• Sunlight
• Water Pollutants, Chemical (chemistry)