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Benzidine photodegradation: a mass spectrometry and UV spectroscopy combined study
Author(s) -
Madeira Paulo,
Nunes M. R.,
Borges C.,
Costa F. M. A.,
Florêncio M. H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.2019
Subject(s) - chemistry , benzidine , photodegradation , mass spectrometry , protonation , tandem mass spectrometry , electrospray , catalysis , electrospray ionization , fragmentation (computing) , photochemistry , collision induced dissociation , photocatalysis , organic chemistry , chromatography , ion , computer science , operating system
Abstract The benzidine photodegradation process was studied using UV/Vis spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) combined with collision‐induced dissociation (CID) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Mass spectrometry was used to characterize benzidine and to identify and characterize possible degradation products and intermediates. The MS data showed that benzidine is quite persistent in aqueous medium. Moreover, the MS analysis enabled us to propose the following three degradation products/intermediates: 4′‐nitro‐4‐biphenylamine, tetrahydroxybiphenyl and 4,4′‐dinitrobiphenyl. For the benzidine molecular ion and protonated molecule and for the protonated molecules of the degradation products/intermediates detected, fragmentation patterns are proposed based on CID and MS/MS data. For the photodegradation process different catalysts were used, namely the commercial TiO 2 Degussa P25, and the laboratory‐prepared ZnO, TiO 2 anatase and a titanium‐zinc oxide with a perovskite type structure. Comparison of the different catalysts showed that degradation was favoured with the commercial TiO 2 . Nevertheless, the other catalysts appear to be promising and economic alternatives for potential future remediation studies. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.