RIBOFLAVIN TETRAACETATE - A POTENTIALLY USEFUL PHOTOSENSITIZING AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF CONTAMINATED WATERS

The photosensitizing ability of 2',3',4',5'-tetraacetyl-riboflavin (RTA) was compared to that of riboflavin in the degradation of various organic compounds and contaminated water samples. RTA was found to be superior to riboflavin under the test conditions. The inductive effects of ring substituents on the photolysis rates between riboflavin and RTA and the anilines (aniline, bromochloroaniline, nitroaniline, p-chloroaniline, p-toluidine, p-anisidine, and 4-aminobenzotrifluoride) were studied; electron-donating substituents on the aniline ring enhanced the degradation rate for the RTA-mediated reactions but had little effect on riboflavin-promoted photolyses. Work with actual contaminated water samples further demonstrated RTA's superior ability to photosensitize the disappearance of a mixture of compounds. The results suggest that RTA may be a promising agent for the cleanup of some polluted waters.