Transient Chemiluminescence Assay for Real-Time Monitoring of the Processes of SO32--Based Advanced Oxidation Reactions

The hydroxyl radical (·OH) is a strong oxidizing agent in situ generated in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and crucial for assessing the performances of AOPs toward organic contaminants' degradation. Herein, we developed a specific luminescent probe, APDI (N' N'-di(propylethylenediamine)-perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide), to selectively detect ·OH among diverse reactive oxygen species and other radicals. Based on the transient chemiluminescence (TCL) spectra, the in situ concentration profile of ·OH within 0.01 s interval time in classical Fenton reactions and four kinds of SO₃^2--based AOPs was obtained, which provides insights into the high dynamic processes of the whole ·OH generation and consumption processes. Besides, compared with acidic conditions, reduced degradation efficiencies in Fe²⁺-SO₃^2- and Fe²⁺-SO₃^2--H₂O₂ systems were found under neutral conditions. The complete depletion of active free radicals due to SO₂^-̇ radicals generated from Fe²⁺ and SO₃^2- should account most for decreased degradation efficiencies evidenced by a new SO₂* TCL signal discovered in the TCL spectra. In addition, similar phenomena have also been found in other M^(n-1)+-SO₃^2--related AOPs. As SO₃^2- and HSO₃^- often exist naturally in wastewater, more efforts are needed to improve the performance of Fe²⁺-H₂O₂ systems. This discovery has important significance for organic contaminant degradation in a natural environment.