Complete mineralization of 4-chlorophenol in water can be achieved by photocatalytic degradation
of oxygenated solutions containing suspended TiO2. The chemical pathways of this degradation
are complex, and in this paper, that which begins with hydroquinone is examined. Hydroxylation
to form 1,2,4-benzenetriol is the first step, though a very small amount of cleavage of the C1−C2
bond is observed. The first major group of acyclic compounds derives from oxidative cleavage of
either the C1−C2 or C3−C4 bond of 1,2,4-benzenetriol. It is argued that this results from single
electron oxidation and capture by superoxide. Many smaller compounds have also been identified,
and routes to various ones of them are proposed. Nearly all of the compounds are verified by use
of authentic samples.
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