Hydrolysis and H2O2-assisted UV photolysis of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol

3-Chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) is a chlorinated alcohol that is often formed as a by-product in the manufacturing of food products. In addition, 3-MCPD may be a disinfection by-product from wastewater treatment by chlorine and may be present in drinking waters from purification plants using epichlorohydrin-linked cationic polymer resins as flocculants. Due to concerns about the toxicity of 3-MCPD and its potential presence in water samples, the removal of 3-MCPD from water should be addressed and examined. For the first time a systematic examination of the removal of 3-MCPD via hydrolysis and photolysis processes is presented. 3-MCPD is shown to undergo hydrolysis at near neutral pH values, but at much slower rates than can be obtained by UV/H2O2 processes. 3-MCPD does not undergo rapid direct photolysis. Re-evaluation of temperature and pH dependent hydrolysis rate data indicates that hydrolysis is first order with respect to [OH−].