The photolysis of potassium peroxodisulphate in aqueous solution in the presence of tert-butanol: a simple actinometer for 254 nm radiation

Aqueous potassium peroxodisulphate (0.01 mol dm−3) together with tert-butanol (0.1 mol dm−3) was photolysed with 254 nm light at 20 °C. The peroxodisulphate ion is cleaved, giving rise to sulphate radicals SO4−. These attack the tert-butanol under hydrogen abstraction and hydrogen sulphate formation. In deoxygenated solutions, Φ(H+) = 1.4, Φ(SO42−) = 1.4 and Φ((HOC(CH3)2CH2)2) is approximately 0.7; in the presence of oxygen, Φ(H+) = 1.8. The enhancement of Φ(H+) by oxygen comes about through the production of superoxide via one of the bimolecular decay channels of the tert-butanol-derived peroxyl radical. The superoxide radical reduces S2O82− under liberation of further SO4−. The oxygenated peroxodisulphate-tert-butanol system is shown to constitute a straightforward actinometer for 254 nm light. Some data and observations regarding the tert-butanol-free peroxodisulphate system are also presented.