Science Daily August 11, 2021
Researchers at the Michigan Technological University have developed a comprehensive reactive activity model that shows how singlet oxygen’s reaction mechanisms perform against a diverse group of contaminants and computes their half-life in a natural aquatic environment. The rate of indirect-sunlight-initiated chemical oxidation is unique to the body of water; singlet oxygen plays a partial role in degrading the toxins in harmful algal blooms and in breaking down the excess nitrogen and phosphorus produced by agricultural runoff. It can oxidize chemicals in drinking water or wastewater treatments. With the half-life calculations established by their model, the research team plans to further study the byproducts produced by singlet oxygen/chemical reactions — with an eye toward predicting whether the byproducts themselves will be toxic. According to the researchers a full understanding of the half-lives of the many chemicals that infiltrate our water sources is a step toward ensuring clean water for human use…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Abstract. Credit: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2021, 55, 12, 8054–8067, June 7, 2021Â