Degradation of chlorinated benzaldehydes in aqueous solutions by UV-irradiation
Photoinduced degradation of chlorinated benzaldehydes was investigated using UV light with λ = 253.7 nm in aerated aqueous solutions. Substrate degradation rate as expressed by first order reaction kinetics revealed rate constants, k;7.45×10−3min-1,3.90×10−3min-1and3.90×11−2min-1for 2- chlorobenzaldehyde, 3-chlorobenzaldehyde and 4-chlorobenzaldehyde respectively. The decomposition of the substrates was related to the formation of chloride and formaldehyde by homolytic cleavage processes. initial quantum yields and photochemical “GiPH-values” are reported for the degradation of the substrates. Based on the qualitative HPLC analysis, a probable reaction mechanism for the photoinduced degradation of chlorinated benzaldehydes is also presented.