PATICIPATION OF OXYGEN IN PHOTODEGRADATION OF METHYL ORANGE IN MICELLAR SOLUTION

Abstract

It has been observed that oxygen participates in the photodegradation of methyl orange in aqueous micellar solutions. The specific superoxide ion scavenger, superoxide dismutase, is not concerned in the reaction. The replacement of H₂O by D₂O results in a tenfold acceleration in the reaction rate. It is concluded that the singlet oxygen generated by the photosensitizer, tetraphenyl porphyrin, has an important role in the reaction.