Radiolysis Behaviors and Mechanism of Nonylphenol by Electron Beam Irradiation

Steady-state radiolysis experiments were performed to look into the decomposition and primary radiolytic degradation mechanism of electron beam (EB) -- irradiation nonylphenol (NP), which might be useful for the application of radiation for treating alkyl phenol-laden wastewaters. The study illustrated that the decomposition of NP in a methanol/water reduction system is higher than in an acetonitrile/water oxidation system and in an acetone/water system. This appears to be due to both ·OH and e_aq^- playing a role in the NP degradation, although the latter is more effective. The degradation rate of NP enhanced with decreasing initial concentration at a constant absorbed dose in a methanol/water solution. Finally, a preliminary investigation of the reaction mechanism under reduction system suggested that the initial products of the reaction were ethyl benzene and icycle[4.2.0]octa-1, 3, 5-triene, which arise from e_aq^- attack at the position of the alkyl side chain of NP.