Oxidation of chlorobenzene with Fenton's reagent

Abstract

The degradation of chlorobenzene and its oxidation products by hydroxyl radicals generated with Fenton's reagent was studied. In the absence of oxygen, chlorophenols, dichlorobiphenyls (DCBs), and phenolic polymers were the predominant initial products. In the presence of oxygen, DCB yields decreased markedly and chlorobenzoquinone was also formed. Chlorophenol isomers were further oxidized by OH's to form chlorinated and nonchlorinated diols. DCBs and the phenolic polymers were also oxidized. The highest yield of product formed per mole of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} consumed was observed in the pH range of 2-3. The pH dependence and product distributions suggest that complexes of aromatic intermediate compounds with iron and oxygen may play a role in regulating reaction pathways. At pH 3.0, approximately 5 mol of H{sub 2}O{sub 2}/mol of chlorobenzene were required to remove all of the aromatic intermediate compounds from solution.