Theoretical study on the formation mechanism of pre-intermediates for PXDD/Fs from 2-Bromophenol and 2-Chlorophenol precursors via radical/molecule reactions

Free-radical triggered formation of dioxins from 2-chlorophenol pyrolysis investigated by synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are a category of highly toxic and environmentally persistent pollutants released particularly via thermal processes of chlorine-containing materials. However, the detailed reaction mechanism, especially the evolution of related radicals remains elusive for decades. Herein we have for the first time characterized the radicals and intermediates during pyrolysis of 2-chlorophenol resulting in PCDD/Fs and PCNs, using a flow tube reactor coupled with in-situ synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry (SR-PIMS). Transient species including 2-chlorophenoxy (C6H4ClO•), phenoxy (C6H5O•), chloro-cyclopentadienyl (•C5H4Cl), chloro-cyclopentadiene (C5H5Cl), fulvenone ketene (C6H4O) and o-benzyne (o-C6H4), were identified via m/z and photoionization efficiency profile. Potential energy surfaces of the early-stage mechanism and the associated rate constants and branching ratios were elucidated. Successively, the formation mechanisms of PCDD/Fs and PCNs from these transient intermediates at high temperatures were proposed which have experimentally validated and refined the previous mechanism. The results suggested that the combination of 2-chlorophenoxy radicals with another 2-chlorophenoxy, phenoxy, phenyl, or o-benzyne leads to the formation of PCDD/Fs, while PCNs are generated from the self-coupling of chloro-cyclopentadienyl.

Framework of the Integrated Approach to Formation Mechanisms of Typical Combustion Byproducts─Polyhalogenated Dibenzo-p-dioxins/Dibenzofurans (PXDD/Fs)

Understanding the mechanisms through which persistent organic pollutants (POPs) form during combustion processes is critical for controlling emissions of POPs, but the mechanisms through which most POPs form are poorly understood. Polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PXDD/Fs) are typical toxic POPs, and the formation mechanisms of PXDD/Fs are better understood than the mechanisms through which other POPs form. In this study, a framework for identifying detailed PXDD/Fs formation mechanisms was developed and reviewed. The latest laboratory studies in which organic free radical intermediates of PXDD/Fs have been detected in situ and isotope labeling methods have been used to trace transformation pathways were reviewed. These studies provided direct evidence for PXDD/Fs formation pathways. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to determine the rationality of proposed PXDD/Fs formation pathways involving different elementary reactions. Many field studies have been performed, and the PXDD/Fs congener patterns found were compared with PXDD/Fs congener patterns obtained in laboratory simulation studies and theoretical studies to mutually verify the dominant PXDD/Fs formation mechanisms. The integrated method involving laboratory simulation studies, theoretical calculations, and field studies described and reviewed here can be used to clarify the mechanisms involved in PXDD/Fs formation. This review brings together information about PXDD/Fs formation mechanisms and provides a methodological framework for investigating PXDD/Fs and other POPs formation mechanisms during combustion processes, which will help in the development of strategies for controlling POPs emissions.

Formation and transformation of reactive species in the Fe2+/peroxydisulfate/Cl- system

The influence of Cl^- on the formation mechanism of active components is often neglected in the Fe²⁺/peroxydisulfate (PDS) system containing a large amount of ferryl ion reactive specie (Fe(Ⅳ)). In the current investigation, the effects of Cl^- concentration on the removal of methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO), the formation of methyl phenyl sulfone (PMSO₂), the transformation of reactive species and oxidation products were investigated under different reaction conditions that included Fe²⁺ dosage, PDS dosage, and pH₀. The results showed that Cl^- complexing Fe²⁺ increased the formation path of sulfate radical (SO₄^·-) in the Fe²⁺/PDS system. Fe²⁺ dosage and pH₀ value affected the content and morphology of Fe²⁺-Cl^- complex, thus affecting the composition of reactive species. According to the experiment of free radical steady-state concentration, it was found that low concentration of Cl^- reacted with SO₄^·- and increased the steady-state concentration of chlorine radicals (8.09 × 10^-13 M [·Cl]_ss at 1.41 mM Cl^-), while at high concentration of Cl^-, the contents of SO₄^·-, hydroxyl radical (·OH) and dichloride anion radicals (Cl₂^·-) increased and the contents of Fe(Ⅳ) and ·Cl decreased. ·Cl had strong reactivity with PMSO, and PMSO and its oxidation products were chlorinated under the combined action of ·Cl and Cl₂^·-. This work reveals the reaction mechanism and environmental application risks of Fe²⁺/PDS technology and lays the groundwork for subsequent industrial application of Fe²⁺/PDS system.

Occurrence and formation pathways analysis of PBDD/Fs from 2,4,6-tribromophenol under thermal reaction conditions

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) are highly toxic and persistent compounds that provoke a wave of publicity. Bromophenols are important precursors for forming PBDD/Fs, and their reaction path has always been a research hotspot. In this study, the formation characteristic of PBDD/Fs from 2,4,6-TBP were studied. The yields of 2,3,7,8-substituted PBDD/Fs and 2,4,6,8-TBDF for the different thermal products ranged from 0.067 to 10.3 ng/g and 0.207-9.68 ng/g, respectively. The effects of adding Cu, Fe, and Sb₂O₃ were investigated and found to be more inclined to accelerate the formation of ortho-substituted PBDD/Fs than 2,3,7,8-PBDD/Fs. The formation pathways of 2,3,7,8-substituted PBDD/Fs and 2,4,6,8-TBDF were also proposed. 2,4,6,8-TBDF is generated in the C-C coupling reactions of some radical intermediates from the debromination of 2,4,6-TBP. The 2,3,7,8-PBDD/Fs are produced through more complex debromination, bromine substitution, and bromine rearrangement reactions. In addition, various catalytic effects on PBDD/F formation pathways were found, and the catalytic effect of Cu by the Ullmann reaction was the highest, while bromophenol oxidation by Fe was the highest. These results proved that both 2,3,7,8-substituted and non-2,3,7,8-substituted PBDD/Fs would be generated from 2,4,6-TBP, and the effects of the catalyst on the Br substituted position of 2,3,7,8-substituted PBDD/Fs were much lower than the Br-substituted position on bromophenol.

Mechanism and kinetic properties for the complete series reactions of chloro(thio)phenols with O(3P) under high temperature conditions

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes/thianthrenes (PCDT/TAs) are two groups of dioxin-like compounds with oxygen and sulfur substitution, respectively. Chlorophenols (CPs) and chlorothiophenols (CTPs) are direct precursors in PCDD/F and PCDT/TA formation. The formation of chlorophenoxy radicals (CPRs) and chlorothiophenoxy radicals (CTPRs) from chlorophenols (CPs) and chlorothiophenols (CTPs) with O(3P) is an important initial step for the formation of PCDD/Fs and PCDT/TAs, respectively. In this paper, the formation of CPRs/CTPRs from the complete series reactions of 19 CP/CTP congeners with O(3P) was studied using the density functional theory (DFT) method. The rate constants of each reaction were calculated using canonical variational transition state (CVT) theory along with a small-curvature tunneling (SCT) contribution over a wide temperature range of 600-1200 K. The effect of the chlorine substitution pattern on the structural parameters, thermochemical properties and rate constants in both CPs and CTPs was discussed. This study shows that the reactions between CPs and O(3P) can be affected by the chlorine substitution at the para-position, and the reactions between CTPs and O(3P) are mostly influenced by both ortho-substitutions. The thiophenoxyl-hydrogen abstraction from CTPs by O(3P) is more likely to occur than the phenoxyl-hydrogen abstraction from CPs by O(3P). Comparison of the reactivity of CP/CTPs with O(3P) with our previous work on CP/CTPs with H and OH shows that the order for phenoxyl-hydrogen abstraction potential is CP + OH > CP + O(3P) > CP + H, and the order for thiophenoxyl-hydrogen abstraction potential is CTP + O(3P) > CTP + H > CTP + OH.

Atmospheric-Pressure Pyrolysis Study of Chlorobenzene Using Synchrotron Radiation Photoionization Mass Spectrometry

The pyrolysis of chlorobenzene (C₆H₅Cl) at 760 Torr was studied in the temperature range of 873-1223 K. The pyrolysis products including intermediates and chlorinated aromatics were detected and quantified via synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the photoionization cross sections of chlorobenzene were experimentally measured. On the basis of the experimental results, the decomposition pathways of chlorobenzene were discussed as well as the generation and consumption pathways of the main products. Benzene is the main product of chlorobenzene pyrolysis. Chlorobiphenyl (C₁₂H₉Cl), dichlorobiphenyl (C₁₂H₈Cl₂), and chlorotriphenylene (C₁₈H₁₁Cl) predominated in trace chlorinated aromatic products. Chlorobenzene decomposed initially to form two radicals [chlorophenyl (·C₆H₄Cl) and phenyl (·C₆H₅)] and the important intermediate o-benzyne (o-C₆H₄). The propagation processes of chlorinated aromatics, including polychlorinated naphthalenes and polychlorinated biphenyls, were mainly triggered by chlorobenzene, chlorophenyl, and benzene via the even-numbered-carbon growth mechanism. Besides, the small-molecule products such as acetylene (C₂H₂), 1,3,5-hexatriyne (C₆H₂), and diacetylene (C₄H₂) were formed via the bond cleavage of o-benzyne (o-C₆H₄).

Quantum chemical calculations on the mechanism and kinetics of ozone-initiated removal of p-coumaryl alcohol in the atmosphere

p-Coumaryl alcohol (p-CMA), as the simplest lignin precursor, was determined in the process of lignin polymer degradation and wood smoke. However, its transformation and migration in the atmosphere have not been well clarified. In this work, the gas-phase reaction mechanisms and kinetic parameters of ozone-initiated removal of p-CMA were performed by using quantum chemical calculations. Seven primary addition reaction pathways were summarized. A more comprehensive and detailed reaction routes of the favorable Criegee intermediate (IM9) were presented, including the reactions with small molecules, as well as its own isomerization and decomposition reactions. p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (P1) is the most dominant product in the further reactions of IM9 and the subsequent ozonolysis mechanisms of P1 also were elucidated. All thermodynamic calculations were investigated on the density functional theory (DFT) method at the M06-2X/6-311 + G (3df, 2p)//M06-2X/6-311 + G (d,p) level. The overall and individual rate constants have estimated by using the KiSThelP under typical atmospheric temperature (198-338 K) and pressure. The total rate constant is 3.37 × 10^-16 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 at 298 K and 1 atm. In addition, the atmospheric lifetime of p-CMA by ozone-determined is 1.18 h under the average ozone concentration of 7 × 10¹¹ molecules cm^-3. The short lifetime indicates that the degradation processes of p-CMA determined by O₃ cannot be ignored, especially in areas where the tip concentration of O₃ molecules is high. The present study provides a synthetical investigation on ozonolysis of p-CMA for the first time and enriches our understanding of atmospheric oxidation processes of other lignin compounds.

The formation of PBDFs from the ortho-disubstituted phenol precursors: A comprehensive theoretical study on the PBDD/Fs formation from 2,4,6-tribromophenol

Bromophenols are known as direct precursors of the notorious polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs). There is a long-held viewpoint that only the more toxic dioxin-type products could be formed from the ortho-disubstituted phenols, totally contrary to the experimental observations that both PBDDs and PBDFs are generated. To tackle the issue, the gaseous formation mechanism of PBDD/Fs from 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP), a typical ortho-disubstituted phenol, was investigated in this study. Firstly, the reactions between TBP and the active H radical produce three key radical species including the bromophenoxyl radical, the substituted phenyl radical and phenoxyl diradical. The self- and cross-combinations of these radical species and TBP yield not only the dioxin-type products 1,3,6,8-TeBDD and 1,3,7,9-TeBDD, but also the brominated dibenzofurans 1,3,6,8-TeBDF and 2,4,6,8-TeBDF. Notably, the reactions involving the phenyl C sites in the substituted phenyl and phenoxyl diradicals are demonstrated to be both thermodynamically and kinetically more favorable than those involving the bromophenoxyl radical and the TBP molecule. Most importantly, the findings of the present work are of great importance as it provides feasible pathways to form less toxic dibenzofuran-type products from the ortho-disubstituted phenols. These results will improve the understanding of the PBDD/Fs formation mechanism from phenol precursors.

Quantum Chemical and Kinetic Study on Radical/Molecule Formation Mechanism of Pre-Intermediates for PCTA/PT/DT/DFs from 2-Chlorothiophenol and 2-Chlorophenol Precursors

Polychlorinated phenoxathiins (PCPTs), polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDTs), and polychlorinated thianthrenes (PCTAs) are sulfur analogues of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/DFs). Chlorothiophenols (CTPs) and chlorophenols (CPs) are key precursors for the formation of PCTA/PT/DTs, which can react with H or OH to form chloro(thio)phenoxy radical, sulfydryl/hydroxyl-substituted phenyl radicals, and (thio)phenoxyl diradicals. However, previous radical/radical PCTA/DT formation mechanisms in the literature failed to explain the higher concentration of PCDTs than that of PCTAs under the pyrolysis or combustion conditions. In this work, a detailed thermodynamics and kinetic calculations were carried out to investigate the pre-intermediate formation for PCTA/PT/DTs from radical/molecule coupling of the 2-C(T)P with their key radical species. Our study showed that the radical/molecule coupling mechanism explains the gas-phase formation of PCTA/PT/DTs in both thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives. The S/C coupling modes to form thioether-(thio)enol intermediates are preferable over the O/C coupling modes to form ether-(thio)enol intermediates. Thus, although the radical/molecule coupling of chlorophenoxy radical with 2-C(T)P has no effect on the PCDD/PT formation, the radical/molecule coupling of chlorothiophenoxy radical with 2-C(T)P plays an important role in the PCTA/PT formation. Most importantly, the pre-PCDT intermediates formation pathways from the couplings of sulfydryl/hydroxyl-substituted phenyl radical with 2-C(T)P and (thio)phenoxyl diradicals with 2-C(T)P are more favorable than pre-PCTA/PT intermediates formation pathways from the coupling of chlorothiophenoxy radical with 2-C(T)P, which provides reasonable explanation for the high PCDT-to-PCTA ratio in the environment.