Chlorine Monoxide (Cl2O) and Molecular Chlorine (Cl2) as Active Chlorinating Agents in Reaction of Dimethenamid with Aqueous Free Chlorine

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2010-05, Vol.44 (9), p.3357-3362
• Main Authors: Sivey, John D, McCullough, Corey E, Roberts, A. Lynn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Aqueous solutions; Chemical compounds; Chemical reactions; Chemistry; Chlorine; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; Environmental Processes; Environmental science; Exact sciences and technology; Herbicides; Pollution; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es9038903

HOCl is often assumed to represent the active oxidant in solutions of free available chlorine (FAC). We present evidence that Cl2O and Cl2 can play a greater role than HOCl during chlorination of the herbicide dimethenamid. Reaction orders in [FAC] were determined at various solution conditions and ranged from 1.10 ± 0.13 to 1.78 ± 0.22, consistent with the concurrent existence of reactions that appear first-order and second-order in [FAC]. Solution pH, [Cl−], [FAC], and temperature were systematically varied so that the reactivity and activation parameters of each FAC species could be delineated. Modeling of kinetic data afforded calculation of second-order rate constants (units: M−1 s−1) at 25 °C: k Cl2O = (1.37 ± 0.17) × 106, k Cl2 = (1.21 ± 0.06) × 106, and k HOCl = 0.18 ± 0.10. Under conditions typical of drinking water chlorination, Cl2O is the predominant chlorinating agent of dimethenamid. To the extent that Cl2O represents the active species in reactions with other disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors, the influence of [FAC] and pH on DBP precursor reaction rates is different than if HOCl were the principal oxidant. Moreover, these findings call into question the validity of apparent rate constants (k app ) commonly reported in the chlorination literature.