Irradiation of ultrasound to 5-methylbenzotriazole in aqueous phase: degradation kinetics and mechanisms

Ultrasonic irradiation (640kHz) leads to the effective degradation of 5-methyl-benzotriazole (5-MBT) in O2 saturated aqueous solution. Up to 97% of 5-MBT is eliminated within 2h of treatment. Upon extended treatment of 6h, UV absorbance of the n→π∗ and π→π∗ transitions associated with aromatic and conjugated systems are completely removed, indicating complete destruction of the aromatic system in 5-MBT. The decomposition of 5-MBT follows pseudo-first order kinetics and the observed decomposition rate dropped significantly in the presence of tertiary butyl alcohol. Detailed product studies were performed employing a negative mode ESI LC–MS. Twenty eight intermediate products were detected during ultrasonic mediated degradation of 5-MBT. Reaction pathways are proposed based on the structures of products assigned to observed 28 masses from LC–MS and commonly accepted degradation pathways observed by thermal and hydroxyl radical mediated pathways often associated with ultrasonic treatment.