Photochemistry of bisphenol F in aqueous solutions: A mechanistic study

• Mechanistic aspects of photochemistry of bisphenol F has been studied by means of stationary (and laser flash photolysis.
• Photoionization with formation of hydrated electron – phenoxyl radical pair was observed to be the main primary photochemical process.
• Phenoxyl radical decays in recombination and reaction with superoxide anion radical formed during scavenging of hydrated electron by dissolved oxygen.
• The main primary product of BPF photolysis determined by LC–MS is hydroxylated BPF.

In the present work aqueous photochemistry of bisphenol F has been studied by means of stationary (282 nm) and laser flash photolysis (266 nm). Photoionization with formation of hydrated electron – phenoxyl radical pair was observed to be the main primary photochemical process (ϕmono = 2 × 10−2). Phenoxyl radical decays in recombination and reaction with superoxide anion radical formed during scavenging of hydrated electron by dissolved oxygen. The quantum yield of BPF photodegradation was evaluated to be 2 × 10−3 upon 282 nm exposure. The main primary product of BPF photolysis determined by LC–MS is hydroxylated BPF.