PHOTOOXIDATION OF 2,4-DINITROTOLUENE IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE

The synergistic effect of hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation from a medium-pressure mercury vapor lamp on the decomposition of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) in water was studied. The results suggest that the degradation pathways of DNT in aqueous solution in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and UV light are side-chain oxidation, which converts DNT to 1,3-dinitrobenzene; hydroxylation of the benzene ring, which converts 1,3-dinitrobenzene to hydroxynitrobenzene derivatives; benzene ring cleavage of these hydroxynitrobenzenes, which produces lower molecular weight carboxylic acids and aldehydes; and further photooxidation, which eventually converts the lower molecular weight acids and aldehydes to CO//2, H//2O, and HNO//3.