Decomposition of meta- and para-phenylphenol during ozonation process

The decomposition of meta-phenylphenol (m-PP) and para-phenylphenol (p-PP) in a heterogeneous gas-liquid system using ozone was investigated. The influence of different reaction parameters such as ozone and PP isomers concentration as well as pH and temperature of the reaction mixture on the PP decay rate was determined. The second-order rate constants for the direct reaction of molecular ozone, determined in a homogeneous system, were (5.85 +/- 0.35) x 10(2) M-1 s(-1) and (8.90 +/- 0.33) x 10(2) M-1 s(-1) for m-PP and p-PP, respectively. The rate constants for the reaction of m-PP and p-PP with ozone increased with increasing pH. The reaction rate constants with ozone were found to be (1.75 +/- 0.02) x 10(9) M-1 s(-1) and (1.86 +/- 0.02) x 10(9) M-1 s(-1) for m-PP and p-PP anions, respectively. (C) 2013 Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences