UV Degradation of Arginine in the Presence of Hydrogen Peroxide: Involvement of Hydroxyl Radical in the Photolytic Process

Abstract

The synergistic action of ultraviolet radiation (254 nm) and hydrogen peroxide on arginine resulted in the formation of a number of different amino acids, ammonia and urea. The amino acids were tentatively identified as aspartic acid, serine, norvaline and ornithine. When tested individually, both ultraviolet radiation and hydrogen peroxide were found incapable of degrading arginine. The photodegradation of arginine, formation of amino acids, ammonia and urea followed first order rate kinetics with respect to radiation dose. The formation of reaction products was inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers indicating a definite involvement of OH^· species in the UV degradation of arginine.