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Aromatic photonitration in homogeneous and heterogeneous aqueous systems

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Abstract

This work describes the nitration of aromatics upon near-UV photolysis of nitrate and nitrite in aqueous solution and upon photocatalytic oxidation of nitrite in TiO2 suspensions. Phenol is used in this work as a model aromatic molecule and as a probe for •NO2/N2O4. The photoinduced nitration of phenol in aqueous systems occurs upon the reaction between phenol and •NO2 or N2O4, and is enhanced by the photocatalytic oxidation of nitrite to •NO2 by TiO2. Aromatic photonitration in the liquid phase can play a relevant role in the formation of nitroaromatics in natural waters and atmospheric hydrometeors, thus being a potential pathway for the condensed-phase nitration of aromatics. Furthermore, the photoinduced oxidation of nitrite to nitrogen dioxide suggests a completely new role for nitrite in natural waters and atmospheric aerosols.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Chimica Analitica, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 5, 1-10125, Torino, Italy

    Davide Vione, Valter Maurino, Claudio Minero, Marco Vincenti & Ezio Pelizzetti

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  1. Davide Vione
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  2. Valter Maurino
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  3. Claudio Minero
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  4. Marco Vincenti
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  5. Ezio Pelizzetti
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Correspondence to Ezio Pelizzetti.

Additional information

Part of this work was presented at the ’4° Convegno Consorzio Interuniver-sitario Nazionale La Chimica per I’Ambiente (INCA)’, Santa Margherita Ligure (Italy) 25–28 February 2001

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Vione, D., Maurino, V., Minero, C. et al. Aromatic photonitration in homogeneous and heterogeneous aqueous systems. Environ Sci & Pollut Res 10, 321–324 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1065/espr2001.12.104.1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1065/espr2001.12.104.1

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