Implementation of laser flash photolysis for radical-induced reactions and environmental implications

Confronted with the imperative crisis of water quality deterioration, the pursuit of state-of-the-art decontamination technologies for a sustainable future never stops. Fitting into the framework of suitability, advanced oxidation processes have been demonstrated as powerful technologies to produce highly reactive radicals for the degradation of toxic and refractory contaminants. Therefore, investigations on their radical-induced degradation have been the subject of scientistic and engineering interests for decades. To better understand the transient nature of these radical species and rapid degradation processes, laser flash photolysis (LFP) has been considered as a viable and powerful technique due to its high temporal resolution and rapid response. Although a number of studies exploited LFP for one (or one class of) specific reaction(s), reactions of many possible contaminants with radicals are largely unknown. Therefore, there is a pressing need to critically review its implementation for kinetic quantification and mechanism elucidation. Within this context, we introduce the development process and milestones of LFP with emphasis on compositions and operation principles. We then compare the specificity and suitability of different spectral modes for monitoring radicals and their decay kinetics. Radicals with high environmental relevance, namely hydroxyl radical, sulfate radical, and reactive chlorine species, are selected, and we discuss their generation, detection, and implications within the frame of LFP. Finally, we highlight remaining challenges and future perspectives. This review aims to advance our understandings of the implementation of LFP in radical-induced transient processes, and yield new insights for extrapolating this pump-probe technique to make significant strides in environmental implications.

A microwave spectroscopic and ab initio study of keto–enol tautomerism and isomerism in the cyclohexanone–water complex

Experimental structure and keto–enol conversion barrier of cyclohexanone–water from microwave spectroscopy and ab initio calculations.

Synergistic Effects of Micro-electrolysis-Photocatalysis on Water Treatment and Fish Performance in Saline Recirculating Aquaculture System

A new physico-chemical process for TAN (total ammonia nitrogen) removal and disinfection is introduced in saline recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), in which the biofilter is replaced with an integrated electrolysis cell and an activated carbon filter. The electrolysis cell which is based on micro current electrolysis combined with UV-light was self-designed. After the fundamental research, a small pilot scale RAS was operated for 30 days to verify the technical feasibility. The system was stocked by 42 GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish with the rearing density of 13 kg/m³. During the experiments, the TAN concentration remained below 1.0 mg/L. The nitrite concentration was lower than 0.2 mg/L and the nitrate concentration had increased continuously to 12.79 mg/L at the end. Furthermore, the concentration of residual chlorine in culture ponds remained below 0.3 mg/L, ORP maintained slight fluctuations in the range of 190~240 mV, and pH of the water showed the downtrend. Tilapia weight increased constantly to 339.3 ± 10 g. For disinfection, the active chlorine generated by electrochemical treatment caused Escherichia coli inactivation. Enzyme activity assay indicated that the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase, carbonic anhydrase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase increased within the normal range. The preliminary feasibility was verified by using this physico-chemical technology in the RAS.

Theoretical dynamic studies on the reactions of CH3C(O)CH3−nCln (n = 0–3) with the chlorine atom

The theoretical investigations were performed on the reaction mechanisms for the title reactions CH(3)C(O)CH(3) + Cl --> products (R1), CH(3)C(O)CH(2)Cl + Cl --> products (R2), CH(3)C(O)CHCl(2) + Cl --> products (R3), and CH(3)C(O)CCl(3) + Cl --> products (R4) by ab initio direct dynamics approach. Two different reaction channels have been found: abstract of the H atom from methyl (--CH(3)) group or chloromethyl (--CH(3-n)Cl(n)) group of chloroacetone and addition of a Cl atom to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group of chloroacetone followed by methyl or chloromethyl eliminations. Because of the higher potential energy barrier, the contribution of addition-elimination reaction pathway to the total rate constants is very small and thus this pathway is insignificant in atmospheric conditions. The rate constants for the H-abstraction reaction channels are evaluated by using canonical variational transition state theory incorporating with the small-curvature tunneling correction. Theoretical overall rate constants are in good agreement with the available experimental values and decrease in the order of k(1) > k(2) > k(3) > k(4). The results indicate that for halogenated acetones the substitution of halogen atom (F or Cl) leads to the decrease in the C--H bond reactivity and more decrease of reactivity is caused by F-substitution.

Rate Constants for the Reaction of Cl with a Series of C4 to C6 Ketones Using the Relative Rate Method

Rate constants for the reaction of Cl with eight ketones were measured relative to the rate constant of propane in approximately 900 Torr of N2 at ambient temperature. Experiments were carried out in a Pyrex reactor with GC analysis of the consumption of the ketones and propane. Chlorine atoms were generated by irradiation of Cl2 in the initial mixture using a black-light-blue fluorescent lamp. The rate constants determined in these experiments (10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1) are: butanone (3.8 +/- 0.3); 2-pentanone (11.6 +/- 1.0); 3-pentanone (8.3 +/- 0.7); 2-hexanone (19.4 +/- 1.9); 3-hexanone (15.3 +/- 1.1); cyclopentanone (10.4 +/- 0.9); 3-methyl-2-butanone (6.2 +/- 0.5); and 4-methyl-2-pentanone (12.8 +/- 1.0). The results for 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, 3-methyl-2-butanone, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone are significantly higher (by a factor of 3 for 2-hexanone) than reported in two previous absolute rate studies. The likely explanation for this discrepancy is discussed.

Pulsed Laser Photolysis Vacuum UV Laser-Induced Fluorescence Kinetic Study of the Gas-Phase Reactions of Cl(2P3/2) Atoms with C3−C6 Ketones

The gas-phase reactions of Cl atoms with acetone, butanone, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, and cyclopentanone at 295 +/- 2 K were studied using pulsed laser photolysis vacuum UV laser-induced fluorescence (PLP-LIF) techniques. Cl(2P(3/2)) atoms were produced by photolysis of Cl2 at 351 nm and monitored by LIF spectroscopy at 134.72 nm (3p(5) 2P(3/2)-3p(4)4s 2P(3/2) transition). Rate coefficients for reactions of Cl atoms with acetone, butanone, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, and cyclopentanone are (2.30 +/- 0.12) x 10(-12), (4.08 +/- 0.21) x 10(-11), (1.23 +/- 0.13) x 10(-10), (8.87 +/- 0.92) x 10(-11), (2.08 +/- 0.32) x 10(-10), (1.43 +/- 0.19) x 10(-10) and (1.16 +/- 0.12) x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively. The results for acetone and butanone are consistent with previous studies. The results for 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, and 3-hexanone are approximately a factor of 2-3 higher than those from previous absolute rate studies. Likely explanations for these discrepancies are discussed. Tropospheric lifetimes of ketones with respect to reaction with Cl atoms are estimated and discussed.