NITROTOLUENESULFONIC ACID - UV, IR, AND NMR PROPERTIES AND RATE STUDIES OF WET AIR OXIDATION

Environmental fate of aromatic sulfonates is relatively unknown. This study reports the findings of wet air oxidation (WAO) of several sulfonic compounds, specifically 5-nitro-o-toluenesulfonic acid (NTSA). WAO is effective in the oxidation of NTSA, a compound similar in structure to dinitrotoluenesulfonates which are major components of TNT red water. The WAO reaction is first-order with respect to NTSA; the order with respect to oxygen pressure is 0.6. The activation energy is approximately 21 kcal/mol. The reaction rate is significantly enhanced with the addition of 5 mg/L Cu(II) catalyst. The effect of initial pH on rate of NTSA oxidation is complex. Higher reaction rates are observed both at low and high pH's, with a better overall rate being achieved at low pH. Some properties of NTSA (e.g., UV, IR, and NMR) were obtained to provide additional information.