Experimental study demonstrates self-induced degradation of toxic 6PPD-quinone by peroxyacetic acid in water, suggesting a catalyst-free strategy for environmental remediation.
Key Points
To investigate whether the toxic tire-derived contaminant 6PPD-quinone can trigger its own degradation through direct reaction with peroxyacetic acid without external energy input.
Conducted batch oxidation experiments at near-neutral pH using varying concentrations of peroxyacetic acid.
Evaluated degradation pathways, electron transfer, and semiquinone radical generation under conditions with and without ultraviolet light irradiation.
Reaction of 6PPD-quinone with peroxyacetic acid triggered radical amplification via semiquinone radical intermediates, achieving over 70% contaminant removal at 65 µM peroxyacetic acid.
Achieved complete degradation of 6PPD-quinone within 60 minutes at 263 µM peroxyacetic acid without external energy.
Ultraviolet light irradiation was not required for semiquinone radical formation but enhanced overall removal kinetics by generating supplementary radicals.