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Per Persson. Photo.

Per Persson

Dean

Per Persson. Photo.

Generation of hydroxyl radicals from reactions between a dimethoxyhydroquinone and iron oxide nanoparticles

Author

  • Gry Lyngsie
  • Lelde Krumina
  • Anders Tunlid
  • Per Persson

Summary, in English

The hydroxyl radical (·OH) is a powerful oxidant that is produced in a wide range of environments via the Fenton reaction (Fe2+ + H2O2 → Fe3+ + ·OH + OH-). The reactants are formed from the reduction of Fe3+ and O2, which may be promoted by organic reductants, such as hydroquinones. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of ·OH formation in reactions between 2,6-dimethoxyhydroquinone (2,6-DMHQ) and iron oxide nanoparticles. We further compared the reactivities of ferrihydrite and goethite and investigated the effects of the O2 concentration and pH on the generation of ·OH. The main finding was that the reactions between 2,6-DMHQ and iron oxide nanoparticles generated substantial amounts of ·OH under certain conditions via parallel reductive dissolution and catalytic oxidation reactions. The presence of O2 was essential for the catalytic oxidation of 2,6-DMHQ and the generation of H2O2. Moreover, the higher reduction potential of ferrihydrite relative to that of goethite made the former species more susceptible to reductive dissolution, which favored the production of ·OH. The results highlighted the effects of surface charge and ligand competition on the 2,6-DMHQ oxidation processes and showed that the co-adsorption of anions can promote the generation of ·OH.

Department/s

  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)
  • MEMEG
  • Microbial Ecology

Publishing year

2018-07-17

Language

English

Publication/Series

Scientific Reports

Volume

8

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Topic

  • Organic Chemistry

Status

Published

Project

  • MICCS - Molecular Interactions Controlling soil Carbon Sequestration

Research group

  • Microbial Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2045-2322