Decreased Stability of Bisphenol A by Photosensitization

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor frequently used in food containers, including epoxy resin and polycarbonates. BPA concentrations were monitored by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) under photosensitization of riboflavin (RF), methylene blue (MB), rose bengal (RB), or titanium dioxide () and the involvement of singlet oxygen was determined using sodium azide (). The stability of BPA decreased significantly in the order of RF, RB, and MB photosensitization (p was not significantly different from that of control samples without photosensitizers under light (p>0.05). The stability of BPA decreased in an MB concentration-dependent manner and increased as the concentration of added increased, implying that singlet oxygen was involved in the photodegradation of BPA during MB photosensitization. The results of this study may help control the BPA content in foods or the environments using photosensitized oxidation and visible light irradiation.