Under
the conditions employed when in situ chemical
oxidation is used for contaminant remediation, high concentrations
of H2O2 (e.g., up to ∼10 M) are typically
present. Using 13C NMR, we show that in carbonate-rich
systems, these high concentrations of H2O2 result
in a reaction with HCO3
– to produce peroxymonocarbonate
(HCO4
–). After formation, HCO4
– reacts with phenol to produce di- and trihydroxyl
phenols. HCO4
– reacts with substituted
phenols in a manner consistent with its electrophilic character. Exchanging
an electron-donating substituent in the para position
of a phenolic compound with an electron-withdrawing group decreased
the reaction rate. Results of this study indicate that HCO4
– is a potentially important but previously unrecognized
oxidative species generated during H2O2
in situ chemical oxidation that selectively reacts with
electron-rich organic compounds. Under conditions in which HO·
formation is inefficient (e.g., relatively high concentration of HCO3
–, low total Fe and Mn concentrations),
the fraction of the phenolic compounds that is transformed by HCO4
– could be similar to or greater than the
fraction transformed by HO·. It may be possible to adjust treatment
conditions to enhance the formation of HCO4
– as a means of accelerating rates of contaminant removal.