Metal hypohalites (e. g. NaOCl) can be used not only for selective oxidation and halogenation of organic compounds, but also for oxidative removal of pollutants such as aromatic compounds and surfactants, especially nitrogen compounds which results in the eutrophication of sees and lakes.
The present article reviews the properties and oxidative preparation, reactions of hydrocarbons (aliphatic and aromatic), alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, carboxylic acids, ammonia, amines, amides (including urea), and sulfur compounds (including sulfonic acids) with the hypohalites. On UV irradiation hypohalites delivers atomic oxygen and HO·which are highly active oxidants, thus initiate a chain reaction by abstracting hydrogen atom, and can be used for removal of pollutants. The review emphasizes the mechanisms for hypohalite oxidation and photo-oxidation of compounds polluting waste water.
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