Photosensitised oxidation of a water pollutant using sulphonated porphyrin

Photodegradation of endocrine disrupting butylparaben (BP) in aerated aqueous solutions was studied using 4,4′,4″,4‴-(porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzenesulphonic acid) (TPPS4), as a sensitiser. Influence of various parameters, such as initial sensitiser and BP concentration, pH of the reaction solution and oxygen content in the reaction solution, on the photosensitised oxidation was examined. It was found that the dominant pathway of BP degradation occurred in the reaction with molecular singlet oxygen 1O2, i.e. via photosensitised oxidation mechanism of type II. Kinetic parameters of the BP reaction with 1O2 were estimated.