Ozone and hydroxyl radicals induced oxidation of glycine

The study of the oxidation of glycine by ozone and hydroxyl radicals has been undertaken. Different experimental procedures involving the H2O2/UV process or ozone in the presence of hydrogen peroxide on one hand, and ozone alone on the other hand allowed to distinguish between the two oxidation pathways. It has been shown that nitrites and nitrates are observed byproducts resulting from molecular ozonation whereas ammonium ions constitute the only inorganic nitrogen species from hydroxyl radicals induced decomposition of glycine. Therefore, the ozonation process promoting radical pathways will favor ammonia production vs. nitrates. Among the organic compounds resulting from oxidation by hydroxyl radicals, oxalic acid was the major byproduct detected in the presence of oxygen. Oxamic acid and formic acid were also observed. In addition, the nitrogen mass balance indicated the formation of unidentified nitrogen byproducts derived from glycine. These nitrogen compounds could result from the interaction of oxygen with nitrogen radical, but, mainly, with α-amino radical of glycine. This reaction is very different from the molecular ozonation which directs the attack on the nitrogen functional group before the C–N bond cleavage of the amino acid molecule.