Photochemical transformation of maleic anhydride in aqueous solutions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1080/02772249409358034

Solutions of maleic anhydride, occurring in the waste water of the organic chemical industry in the Koper area (Slovenia) and subsequently entering the river Rizana and the Bay of Koper (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic), in distilled, riverine and artificial and natural sea water were photolyzed using photochemical reactors and exposure to sunlight. The transformation of maleic anhydride under artificial light proceeds first through hydrolysis to maleic acid and then photochemical isomerization of maleic acid to fumaric acid, its partial decarboxylation and polymerization. The polymeric product formed is complex consisting of chains with methylene and methine groups and these chains connected by ether and ester bonds. The average molecular weights of the polymers formed were distributed in a broad range lower than 4200. The izomerization is catalyzed by inorganic ions and to a lesser extent by dissolved organic matter (DOM) while polymerization is inhibited by inorganic ions but DOM has a negligible effect. The quantum yields ranged between 0.03-0.04. The influence of the air atmosphere was negligible.

Full text of DOI:10.1080/02772249409358034

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Toxicological & Environmental
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Photochemical transformation
of maleic anhydride in aqueous
solutions
a
b
a
O. Bajt , B. Šket & J. Faganeli
a
Marine Biological Station , Fornače 41, Piran, 66330,
Slovenia
b
Department of Organic Chemistry , University of
Ljubjana , Aškerčeva 5, Ljubljana, 61000, Slovenia
Published online: 19 Sep 2008.
To cite this article: O. Bajt , B. Šket & J. Faganeli (1994) Photochemical transformation of
maleic anhydride in aqueous solutions, Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 43:3-4,
229-234, DOI: 10.1080/02772249409358034
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772249409358034
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