Characterization of titanium dioxide photoactivity following the formation of radicals by EPR spectroscopy

In order to find ways to characterize oxygen-saturated aqueous TiO₂ suspensions, the formation of photo-induced free radicals was followed by EPR spectroscopy, using as indicators N-oxide and nitrone spin trapping agents, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (TMPO), α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POB N), 4-(N-methylpyridyl)-N-tert-butylnitrone (MePyBN), as well as semi-stable free radicals, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxyl (TEMPOL), cation radical of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), diammonium salt (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). DMPO and TMPO are efficiently oxidized to the EPR-silent products via radical in termediates. Conversely, the nitrone spin traps (POBN and MePyBN) showed selective formation of hydroxyl radical spin adducts upon continuous irradiation of oxygenated TiO₂ suspensions. Their concentrations increased proportionally with the amount of photocatalyst and irradiation time. The EPR spectrum of the semi-stable free radicals TEMPOL, ABTS^·+ or DPPH is gradually eliminated during irradiation, and this system represents a simple technique for the evaluation of TiO₂ activity.     

Chemically induced dynamic electron polarization. The isotropic hyperfine coupling and the CIDEP of radicals produced by pulse radiolysis

Time resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine the electron spin polarization in several radicals produced in pulse radiolysis of aqueous alcoholic solutions. The observation of the distribution of polarized intensities in the various hyperfine lines in an EPR spectrum provides yet another indication of the S-T₀ mixing of the electron-nuclear states in radical pairs.     

Degradation of n-butylparaben and 4-tert-octylphenol in H2O2/UV system

The degradation of two endocrine disrupting compounds: n-butylparaben (BP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) in the H₂O₂/UV system was studied. The effect of operating variables: initial hydrogen peroxide concentration, initial substrate concentration, pH of the reaction solution and photon fluency rate of radiation at 254 nm on reaction rate was investigated. The influence of hydroxyl radical scavengers, humic acid and nitrate anion on reaction course was also studied. A very weak scavenging effect during BP degradation was observed indicating reactions different from hydroxyl radical oxidation. The second-order rate constants of BP and OP with OH radicals were estimated to be 4.8×10⁹ and 4.2×10⁹ M^?1 s^?1, respectively. For BP the rate constant equal to 2.0×10¹⁰ M^?1 s^?1was also determined using water radiolysis as a source of hydroxyl radicals.     

Redox reactions of transient species formed during pulse radiolysis of 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde and 2-pyridine methanol in aqueous solutions

Rate constants for the reactions of e _aq ^? , H and OH radicals with 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde and 2-pyridine methanol have been determined by pulse radiolysis technique. Reactions of reducing radicals such as acetone ketyl radicals and CO₂ ^? with these compounds were also evaluated at various pHs. The species produced by the reaction of reducing radicals with these solutes was a strong reductant itself. While pyridinyl were produced in the case of 2-pyridine methanol, one-electron reduction of 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde led to the formation of PyCHOH radical. The one-electron reduction potential of PyCHOH radicals was estimated by establishing an equilibrium with MV⁺ radical cations to be ?0.6V vs NHE. OH radical reaction with 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde gave an OH adduct, while in the case of 2-pyridine methanol, OH radicals reacted partly by H-abstraction from the ?CH₂OH group. SO₄ ^? radical reaction with 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde produced a species which was reducing in nature. The rate constants for the reaction of e _aq ^? and OH radicals are compared with similar values obtained in the case of other 2-pyridine derivatives to see if there is any electron-inductive effect.     

ESR study of the mechanism of radical formation during liquid-and solid-phase radiolyses of ethylamines

The formation of radicals during the liquid-phase radiolysis of ethylamine, diethylamine, and triethylamine was studied by means of the spin trapping technique. The radicals produced in ion-molecule reactions and in the rearrangement and fragmentation reactions of the primary radical cations of the amines were identified. The structure and reactions of the primary radical cations were studied in a low-temperature CFCl₃ freonic matrix in which amine radical cations were generated via charge transfer from matrix radical cations to amines during freon irradiation. The results of experiments in the liquid and solid phases are consistent with one another. The structure of neutral radicals and radical cations of the ethylamines was corroborated by quantum-chemical calculations.     

Observation of hydrated electron, (SCN)2 .- and CO3 .- radical in high temperature and supercritical water

Transient radicals (hydrated electron, (SCN)₂ ^.- and CO₃ ^.-) formed in supercritical water have been observed by the pulse radiolysis technique. The change of spectra of these radicals with temperature has been measured. It was found that the spectra and absorption coefficients of the radicals, e^- _aq and (SCN)₂ ^.-, are strongly dependent on the temperature of the water. Since it was found that the absorption spectrum and molar absorption coefficient of CO₃ ^.- radical seem to be almost independent of temperature, G-values of OH and e^- _aq could be derived. Then, the absolute values of the absorption coefficients for the radicals could be calculated. The G-values of the radical products in water radiolysis tend to increase with increasing temperature up to 400°C. Based on the above observation, radiolysis of supercritical water is discussed.     

Study of radical species formed by radiolysis of polycrystalline calcium selenite (CaSeO3)

The paper presents spin density values on oxygen and selenium orbitals, derived from EPR spectra of SeO ₂ ^– radical, formed in the -radiolysis of calcium selenite (CaSeO₃). The kinetics of thermal annealing of radicals have been studied. A mechanism for radiolysis is proposed.     

Formation of Dimer Radical Cations of Selenourea on Oxidation: Pulse Radiolysis Studies

Abstract

Reactions of oxidizing radicals like hydroxyl (·OH) radical, specific electron transfer agents like N ₃ ·, and I ₂ ^?. radicals were studied with selenourea (SeU) and compared with thiourea (ThU) using pulse radiolysis technique in microsecond time scales. Both the compounds efficiently react with ·OH radicals, however, SeU undergoes easier oxidation by secondary oxidants as compared to ThU. The results were supported by cyclic voltammetry studies. The radical cations of both SeU and ThU formed on oxidation undergo dimerization with the parent molecule to form two-centered three-electron-hemi bonded radical cations absorbing at 410 and 400 nm respectively with the stabilization energies of 21.1 and 20.5 kcal/mol for SeU and ThU, respectively. Preliminary studies indicated that at low concentration of SeU, the dimerization is prevented and the oxidation reaction produced metallic Se nanoparticles.     

Mechanism of oxidation of organic substrates by the rhenium(VI) dithiolate complex in nonaqueous media as determined by EPR using the spin trap method

The mechanism of the reaction of the rhenium(VI) dithiolate complex Re^IV(TDT)₃ with some electron-donating organic reagents in nonaqueous solvents is studied by the spin trap method combined with electron paramagnetic resonance. The reaction products are stable complex rhenium(V) anions, Re^V(TDT)₃-, and short-lived radicals forming long-lived adducts with spin traps as probed by EPR. The possibility of using the radical processes for analytical purposes is discussed.     

ESR Spectra of radicals produced by reduction of pyridine and pyrazine

Radicals produced by reaction of e^?_aq with pyridine, pyrazine, and pyrazinedicarboxylic acid have been studied by electron spin resonance using the in situ radiolysis steady-state ESR technique. The radical anions initially produced have been found to undergo rapid protonation on nitrogen to form pyridinyl and pyrazinyl radicals. The NH proton of pyridinyl radical does not dissociate even at pH 13.7. The radical from pyrazine has been observed only in the doubly protonated positively charged form in acid and neutral solutions, but no spectrum was observed in alkaline media. With 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid the doubly protonated radical has been observed at pH 4–8 and the singly protonated one at pH 11–12. The pK for this dissociation is 9.2. The hyperfine constants of the pyridinyl radical are compared with those obtained from INDO molecular orbital calculations.     

Role of the Hydroxyl Radical-Generating System in the Estimation of the Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)

The scavenging activity of hydroxyl radicals, produced by the Fenton reaction, is commonly used to quantify the antioxidant capacity of plant extracts. In this study, three Fenton systems (Fe/phosphate buffer, Fe/quinolinic acid and Fe/phosphate buffer/quinolinic acid) and the thermal degradation of peroxydisulfate were used to produce hydroxyl radicals; the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of plant extracts (ginger, blueberry juices and green tea infusion) and chemical compounds (EGCG and GA) was estimated by spin trapping with DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide) and EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) spectroscopy. Phosphate buffer was used to mimic the physiological pH of cellular systems, while quinolinic acid (pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) facilitates the experimental procedure by hindering the spontaneous oxidation of Fe(II). The EC₅₀ (the concentration of chemical compounds or plant extracts which halves the intensity of the DMPO–OH adduct) values were determined in all the systems. The results show that, for both the chemical compounds and the plant extracts, there is not a well-defined order for the EC₅₀ values determined in the four hydroxyl radical generating systems. The interactions of phosphate buffer and quinolinic acid with the antioxidants and with potential iron-coordinating ligands present in the plant extracts can justify the observed differences.     

Spectral,kinetics, and redox properties of the transients formed on one‐electron oxidation of 4,4′‐thiodiphenol: A pulse radiolysis study

The transient absorption bands (λ_max = 330, 525 nm, k_f = 5 × 10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) obtained on pulse radiolysis of N₂O‐saturated neutral aqueous solution of 4,4′‐thiodiphenol (TDPH) are due to the reaction of TDPH with ^·OH radicals and are assigned to phenoxyl radical formed on fast deprotonation of the solute radical cation. The reaction of specific one‐electron oxidants (Cl₂^·−, Br₂^·−, N₃^·, TI²⁺, CCl₃OO^·) with TDPH also produced similar transient absorption bands. The phenoxyl radicals are also produced on pulse radiolysis of N₂‐saturated solution of TDPH in 1,2‐dichloroethane. The nature of transient absorption spectrum obtained on reaction of ^·OH radicals with TDPH is not affected in acidic solutions, showing that OH‐adduct is not formed in neutral solutions. The oxidation potential for the formation of phenoxyl radical is determined to be 0.98 V. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 603–610, 1999     

Kinetics of one-electron oxidation by the ClO radical

Pulse radiolysis studies were carried out to determine the rate constants for reactions of ClO radicals in aqueous solution. These radicals were produced by the reaction of OH with hypochlorite ions in N₂O saturated solutions. The rate constants for their reactions with several compounds were determined by following the build up of the product radical absorption and in several cases by competition kinetics. ClO was found to be a powerful oxidant which reacts very rapidly with phenoxide ions to form phenoxyl radicals and with dimethoxybenzenes to form the cation radicals (k = 7 × 10⁸ −2 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1). ClO also oxidizes ClO^-₂ and N^-₃ ions rapidly (9.4 × 10⁸ and 2.5 × 10⁸ M^-1 s^-1, respectively), but its reactions with formate and benzoate ions were too slow to measure. ClO does not oxidize carbonate but the CO^-₃ radical reacts with ClO^- slowly (k = 5.1 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1).     

Pulse radiolysis studies on [Fe(CN)6]4−−BrO 3 − −CN− system in ethylene glycol — Water solutions

Formation of oxidizing and reducing radicals has been studied by pulse radiolysis of [Fe(CN)₆]^4––BrO ₃ ^– –CN^– system in ethylene glycol — water solvent mixture. Oxidizing ·BrO₂ and BrO radicals formed by electron scavenging with ·BrO ₃ ^– were identified and their reactions were investigated. The reaction of hydroxyl radicals with ethylene glycol leads to formation of reactive radicals with reducing properties and of compounds which reduce slowly in dark the ferricyanide formed in the reaction of ·BrO₂ radical with ferrocyanide.     

The radiation chemistry of iodophenolsThe research described herein was supported in part by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the Department of Energy. This is contribution No. NDRL 4019 from the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory.

The technique of pulsed electron radiolysis has been used to determine absolute rate constants for the reaction of the hydrated electron, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen atom with ortho-, meta- and para-iodophenol in aqueous solution. These rate constants have been used to establish individual G-values for iodide production in the steady-state radiolysis of 2-iodophenol in a variety of radical scavenger-additive systems. For 2-iodophenol, specific efficiencies for e_(aq)⁻,  OH and  H reaction were determined as 0.89±0.03, 0.27±0.03, and 0.97±0.07, respectively. These data are compared to the available literature results for other halophenols.     

The kinetics of radical reactions in the radiolysis of aqueous solutions of organic nitro compounds

Pulsed radiolysis and computer simulation of gamma radiolytic decomposition of organic nitrates in aqueous solutions were performed to determine the rate constants for reactions with the participation of intermediates determining the mechanism of the process. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and cyclic nitramine, cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine, were used as substrates. The bimolecular rate constants for the reactions of hydrated electrons (e _aq ^? ) and hydroxyl radicals (^?OH) with the substrates and constants for the recombination of electron adducts and carbon-centered radicals (the products of the detachment of the H atom from the nitro compound molecule by the OH radical) were determined by direct measurements with the use of high-speed spectrophotometry. Computer simulation of the reaction scheme was used to estimate the rate constant for significant reactions, monomolecular forward and back reactions of electron adducts and electron transfer to molecular oxygen, and refine the rate constant for the reaction of e _aq ^? with tert-butanol.     

Absolute rate constants for the gas-phase reaction of OH radicals with cyclohexane and ethane at 295 K

The absolute rate constants for the gas-phase H-atom abstraction by hydroxyl radicals from cyclohexane and ethane have been determined at room temperature. OH radicals were produced by pulse radiolysis of an H₂O-Ar mixture, and the decay of OH was followed by monitoring the transient light absorption around 309 nm. The rate constants were found to be k = (5.24±0.36) × 10⁻¹² and (2.98±0.21) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for cyclohexane and ethane, res- pectively. These results are compared with literature data.     

EPR spectra and structure of the chlorotrifluoroethylene and bromotrifluoroethylene radical anions

EPR spectra attributable to the halogenotrifluoroethylene radical anions have been generated by electron attachment in solid solutions at low temperatures. The spin density distribution in these radicals strongly suggests that the unpaired electron occupies a σ^* orbital, a conclusion which is supported by CNDO/2 calculations.     

Pulse radiolysis study of dithio-oxamide in aqueous solutions

The reactions of e⁻ _aq, H-atoms, OH radicals and some one electron oxidants and reductants were studied with dithio-oxamide (DTO) in aqueous solutions using pulse radiolysis technique. The transient species formed by the reaction of e⁻ _aq with DTO at pH 6.8 has an absorption band with λ _max at 380 nm and is reducing in nature. H-atom reaction with DTO at pH 6.8 also produced the same transient species. The semi-reduced species was found to be neutral indicating that the electron adduct gets protonated quickly. However at pH 1, the species produced by H-atom reaction had a different spectrum with λ _max at 360 and 520 nm. Reaction of acetone ketyl radicals and CO₂ ⁻ radicals with DTO at pH 6.8 gave transient spectra which were identical to that obtained by e⁻ _aq reaction. However at pH 1, the spectrum obtained by the reaction of acetone ketyl radicals with DTO was similar to that obtained by H-atom reaction at that pH. The transient species formed by OH radical reaction with DTO in the pH range 1–9.2 also has two absorption maxima at 360 and 520 nm. This spectrum was identical with the spectrum obtained by H-atom reaction at pH 1. This means that all these radicals viz. OH, H-atom and (CH₃)₂COH radicals react with DTO at pH 1 by H-abstraction mechanism. The transient species produced was found to be sensitive to the presence of oxygen. One-electron oxidizing radicals such as Br₂ ^−· and SO₄ ^−· radicals reacted with DTO at neutral pH to give the same species as produced by OH radical reaction having absorption maxima at 360 to 520 nm. At acidic pHs, only Br₂ ^−· and Cl₂ ^−· radicals were able to oxidize DTO to give the same species as produced by OH radical reaction. The semioxidized species is a resonance stabilized species with the electron delocalized over the-N-C-S bond. This species was found to be neutral and non-oxidizing in nature.     

On optically detected ESR spectra from radical cations of liquid hydrocarbon solvents

The optically detected electron spin resonance (OD ESR) method has been employed to study the origin of radical-cation ESR signals in some saturated hydrocarbons with small amounts of 2.5-diphenyloxazol or p-terphenyl under radiolysis. In cyclohexane, the ESR, signal with resolved hyperfine structure was ascribed to c-C₆H₁₀⁺/PPO^? radical-ion pairs produced from primary c-C₆H₁₂⁺/PPO^? ones by monomolecular decay, of cyclohexane radical cations to cyclohexene radical cations. Cis- and trans-decalin under radiolysis accumulate 9,10-octalin which captures solvent holes and form 9,10-octalin radical cations giving a resolved OD ESR spectrum. 9,10-octalin is present in non-irradiated commercial decalin as an impurity. The OD ESR technique has been shown to be very sensitive to some impurities in hydrocarbon solvents.