Themed issue on aquatic photochemistry
Guest editor Kris McNeill introduces this themed issue on Aquatic Photochemistry.
Critical Review
A critical assessment of the photodegradation of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments: defining our current understanding and identifying knowledge gaps
A standardized scoring rubric provided critical assessment—positive and negative—of the state of knowledge of aquatic photochemistry of pharmaceuticals.
The importance of charge-transfer interactions in determining chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) optical and photochemical properties
A critical review presenting the case for an electronic interaction model as the basis for CDOM optical and photochemical properties.
Photo-transformation of pharmaceutically active compounds in the aqueous environment: a review
This review summarizes the last 10 years (2003–2013) of studies on the solar or solar-simulated photodegradation of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in aqueous environments.
The role of indirect photochemical degradation in the environmental fate of pesticides: a review
This critical review assesses the role of dissolved organic matter-sensitized indirect photolysis in the environmental fate of pesticides.
Kinetics of heterogeneous reactions of ozone with representative PAHs and an alkene at the air–ice interface at 258 and 188 K
The ozonation rates of representative PAHs and alkenes at the air–ice interface were shown to increase with decreasing temperature.
Blending remote sensing data products to estimate photochemical production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide in the surface ocean
A novel combination of remote sensing products is used to estimate photochemical production rates of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide in the global surface ocean.
Wavelength and temperature-dependent apparent quantum yields for photochemical formation of hydrogen peroxide in seawater
Wavelength, temperature and light-dose dependent hydrogen peroxide photoproduction quantum yields were determined in subtropical, temperate and polar marine waters.
Photo-reactivity of natural dissolved organic matter from fresh to marine waters in the Florida Everglades, USA
Photo-production of reactive species by NOM in the Florida Everglades was examined across salinity gradients and coupled with PARAFAC analysis.
Insights into the complete and partial photooxidation of black carbon in surface waters
Dissolved black carbon is more susceptible to photooxidation than particulate black carbon, and partial photooxidation of dissolved black carbon is a more important degradation pathway than complete photooxidation.
Estimating hydroxyl radical photochemical formation rates in natural waters during long-term laboratory irradiation experiments
This study showed that hydroxyl radical (˙OH) production during long-term irradiation experiments is most accurately measured using instantaneous rates.
Degradation of organic pollutants in/on snow and ice by singlet molecular oxygen (1O*2) and an organic triplet excited state
Lifetimes of pollutants are reduced on ice due to enhanced 1O*2 and the excited state triplet of the organic sensitizer.
Evidence for dissolved organic matter as the primary source and sink of photochemically produced hydroxyl radical in arctic surface waters
Photochemical hydroxyl radical formation decreases with increasing water residence time in a system of lakes connected by streams in the Arctic.
Photometric hydroxyl radical scavenging analysis of standard natural organic matter isolates
Hydroxyl radical (˙OH) scavenging reaction rate constants of standard natural organic matter (NOM) isolates (k˙OH,NOM) were measured with a rapid background scavenging method.
Direct photodegradation of lamotrigine (an antiepileptic) in simulated sunlight – pH influenced rates and products
In simulated sunlight, pH influenced the direct photodegradation of lamotrigine, an antiepileptic drug recently detected in surface and drinking waters, producing different degradation rates, quantum yields, pathways, and photoproducts.
Photodegradation routes of the herbicide bromoxynil in solution and sorbed on silica nanoparticles
We compare the kinetics of the main photodegradation pathways of bromoxynil free and bonded to silica nanoparticles in simulated natural waters.
Organic matrix effects on the formation of light-absorbing compounds from α-dicarbonyls in aqueous salt solution
Aqueous-phase reactions of organic compounds are of general importance in environmental systems.
Photoreactivity of the fungicide chlorothalonil in aqueous medium
In water, chlorothalonil undergoes photolysis via the triplet excited state and generates singlet oxygen with high quantum yield.
APEX (Aqueous Photochemistry of Environmentally occurring Xenobiotics): a free software tool to predict the kinetics of photochemical processes in surface waters
The APEX software predicts the photochemical transformation kinetics of xenobiotics in surface waters as a function of photoreactivity parameters, water chemistry and water depth.
One electron oxidation potential as a predictor of rate constants of N-containing compounds with carbonate radical and triplet excited state organic matter
One electron oxidation potential predicts reaction rate constants of two reactive intermediates, carbonate radical and triplet state excited organic matter.
Chlorpropham and phenisopham: phototransformation and ecotoxicity of carbamates in the aquatic environment
In this study, a comparison of two carbamic pesticides, chlorpropham and phenisopham, was carried out in terms of both photodegradability and ecotoxicity.
About this collection
Guest editor Kristopher McNeill presents this themed issue on aquatic photochemistry. The research articles and critical reviews found in this collection cover a diverse range of topics and sub-disciplines within environmental science, representing both the excitement and breadth of current aquatic photochemical research. From the field to the laboratory to the silicon computer chip, from lakes and rivers to atmospheric aerosols, from anthropogenic chemicals to natural organic matter, scientists are confronting challenges and demonstrating how diverse and strong the field of aquatic photochemistry truly is.