| Abstract: | Chlorine position of chlorophenol isomers has a significant effect on the dechlorination kinetics of monochlorophenols, dichlorophenols, and trichlorophenols during Fenton oxidation. The effects have been evaluated by the rate constants of the dechlorination kinetic model developed in this study. It is found that the dechlorination rate of 3-CP is faster than that of 4-CP, which is faster than that of 2-CP. Since OH and Cl groups on the aromatic ring are ortho and para directors, the directory effect of OH and Cl groups enhances the dechlorination kinetics of 2-CP due to acceleration of the hydroxylation of 2-CP. Therefore, the dechlorination kinetics increases accordingly. For trichlorophenols (TCP), steric hindrance plays an important role during their dechlorination process. Specifically, the closer the chlorine atoms locate with each other on the aromatic ring, the more difficult the dechlorination processes will be. The dechlorination kinetics of dichlorophenols seems to be affected by both directory effect of OH and Cl groups and the effect of steric hindrance of chlorine atoms. The directory effect of OH and Cl groups on trichlorophenols decreases since the chlorine atom occupied the positions which are the most favorable for hydroxyl radical attack. |
