Halogenation of bisphenol-A, triclosan, and phenols in chlorinated waters containing iodide

Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Jul 2;47(13):6764-72. doi: 10.1021/es304927j. Epub 2013 Apr 9.

Abstract

Free chlorine reacts with the iodide (I(-)) present in disinfected waters to produce free iodine. Past research has indicated that this nonchlorinated oxidant exhibits greater reactivity and potentially produces more toxic byproducts than free chlorine alone. In this study, we examined the reactivity of the phenolic compounds 2,4-dichlorophenol, triclosan, and bisphenol A in chlorinated waters containing I(-). The free iodine mediated reactions were probed as a function of the initial I(-) concentration and the solution pH. Over the pH range of 5.5 to 10 for an initial I(-) concentration of 10 μM, the observed transformation kinetics of 2,4-dichlorophenol were generally 2-15× faster than reactions with free chlorine alone, while for triclosan and bisphenol A the free iodine mediated transformations were ≈3-20× and ≈230-660× faster, respectively. A comprehensive reaction model that simultaneously accounts for free chlorine and free iodine reactivity in these systems was developed to determine second-order rate constants for the chlorinated and iodinated oxidants. For all test compounds, iodinated daughter products are rapidly produced when free chlorine reacts in the presence of I(-).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Benzhydryl Compounds / chemistry*
  • Chlorine / chemistry*
  • Chlorophenols / chemistry*
  • Halogenation
  • Iodides / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Phenols / chemistry*
  • Triclosan / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Chlorophenols
  • Iodides
  • Phenols
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Triclosan
  • Chlorine
  • bisphenol A
  • 2,4-dichlorophenol