Abstract
In order to decompose organic pollutants dissolving in aquatic environment, photochemical process of [60]fullerene which acts as an efficient photosensitizer has been applied for the oxidative degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) with phenolic structure. Photochemical degradation of two EDCs was examined by using three types of photosensitizers such as water soluble [60]fullerene derivative, rose bengal, and solid [60]fullerene itself. Their addition to an aqueous solution of EDCs, followed by irradiation of visible light, led to successful degradation of EDCs, of which concentrations were determined by HPLC equipped with a reverse-phase column. Efficiency in decomposing EDCs was found to increase in the order of solid [60]fullerene < rose bengal < water soluble [60]fullerene. The experimental results as well as the degradation mechanism will be reported in detail.
