The photochemical oxidation of phenols and methoxyphenols � common functional groups associated with lignin pyrolysis products � may represent an important degradation pathway for such aromatic compounds in tropospheric chemistry. To assess this potential, we used diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy to investigate the adsorption of model organics, including phenol and eugenol, on rutile (TiO2) and alumina (?-Al2O3). Dissociative adsorption of phenolic functional groups results in irreversible adsorption at all relative humidities studied (2�50%). Samples were subsequently exposed to the output of a xenon lamp solar simulator. Studies compared the photochemical oxidation under UV-visible full spectral exposure versus ? > 300 nm, using a short wavelength cutoff filter to model actinic radiation. Kinetics and reaction products are also compared for TiO2, a well know photocatalyst, versus Al2O3, and as a function of relative humidity. The atmospheric potential of this photochemistry will be discussed.

Photochemical oxidation of phenols and methoxyphenols adsorbed on mineral oxides

244th National Meeting (2012)

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