Plasma-Electrolysis of Dinitrophenol in Gas-Liquid Boundary and Interpretation Using Molecular Orbital Theory

The advanced oxidation of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), 2,5-DNP, and 3,4-DNP in aqueous solution has been investigated using a multi-gas, dielectric barrier discharge. Dielectric barrier discharge was operated in the aqueous solution and gas boundary. The degradation was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The acceleration of the advanced-oxidation has been investigated by the combination of the anion exchange polymer membrane. The result indicated that the degradation pathways involve a rapid detachment of the nitro group and a slow opening of the aromatic-ring. The hydroxyl radical and the excited hydroxyl anion are responsible for the primary attack of the DNP with the production of dihydroxy-nitrobenzenes. The attack of hydroxyl radical occurs at the benzene ring carbon activated by the presence of a phenolic OH group and a nitro group. The result suggested that the reaction is dominated by a pseudo-first order kinetic reaction. The degradation process is interpreted using Molecular Orbital Theory.