Advanced oxidation of dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride by VUV/UV/chlorine: Synergistic effect, radicals, and degradation pathway

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Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are crucial ingredients in many cleaning agents, disinfectants and personal care products. They are widely detected in aquatic environments. In this study, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)/UV/chlorine was used to degrade dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC, a typical QAC). The degradation efficiency of VUV/UV/chlorine on DDBAC was the highest among chlorine, UV, VUV/UV, UV/chlorine and VUV/UV/chlorine. During the VUV/UV/chlorine process, with chlorine concentration increasing from 0 to 700 μM, the degradation rate constant of DDBAC increased from 0.16 to 0.22 min−1 then decreased to 0.17 min−1. When the chloride concentration was 10 mM and 50 mM, the degradation rate constant of DDBAC decreased by 31% and 55%, respectively. Inorganic anions and organic compounds in the reverse osmosis concentrate inhibited the degradation of DDBAC by quenching radicals. The degradation mechanisms of DDBAC degradation during the VUV/UV/chlorine process include UV photolysis and oxidation by OH, Cl and other reactive species. With the increase in pH from 5 to 10, the OH concentration decreased from 18.7 × 10−14 M to 7.5 × 10−14 M, and the Cl concentration decreased from 8.8 × 10−14 M to 2.1 × 10−14 M. At pH 5–10, contributions of OH and Cl to DDBAC degradation were 30%−44% and 18%−37%, respectively. Degradation mechanisms of DDBAC mainly include hydrogen abstraction, hydroxylation, and cleavage of the C-N bond. The concentrations of four chlorinated products (trichloromethane, monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid) mostly initially increased and then decreased.