Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 30 May 1969:
Vol. 164. no. 3883, pp. 1083 - 1085
DOI: 10.1126/science.164.3883.1083
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Photochemical Decomposition of DDT by a Free-Radical Mechanism

A. R. Mosier 1, W. D. Guenzi 1, and L. L. Miller 2

1 Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
2 Chemistry Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins

Both as a pure solid and in hexane solution, DDT readily decomposed when irradiated with ultraviolet light (2537 angstroms). Principal products identified by gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatography from irradiations of the solid phase were 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene, and 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone. 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane and hydrochloric acid were identified from irradiated solutions of DDT in hexane. On the basis of products obtained, quantum yields, scavenger experiments, and other chemical tests, a nonchain, free-radical mode of degradation is proposed.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
DDT: An Unrecognized Source of Polychlorinated Biphenyls.
T. H. Maugh II (1973)
Science 180, 578-579
   PDF »
DDT in the Biosphere: Where Does It Go?.
G. M. Woodwell, P. P. Craig, and H. A. Johnson (1971)
Science 174, 1101-1107
   Abstract »    PDF »
Induced Photolysis of DDT.
L. L. Miller and R. S. Narang (1970)
Science 169, 368-370
   Abstract »    PDF »
Photooxidation of DDT and DDE.
J. R. Plimmer, U. I. Klingebiel, and B. E. Hummer (1970)
Science 167, 67-69
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)