Photochemical efficiency of Fe(III)-EDDS complex: OH radical production and 17β-estradiol degradation

In this work, the photochemical impact of Fe(III)-EDDS complex on the quantum yield of OH formation and on the degradation of 17β-estradiol (E2) was investigated. The quantum yield of OH formation by photolysis of Fe(III)-EDDS increased with increasing pH in the range of 3.0–9.0. The effect of Fe(III)-EDDS concentration, irradiation wavelength and oxygen on the quantum yield of OH formation was also investigated. The degradation of E2 was influenced by the concentration of Fe(III)-EDDS, the solution pH, oxygen and Fe(III) concentrations. This work demonstrates that Fe(III)-EDDS is a photoactive iron species especially at higher pHs and could play an important role in the transformation of organic compounds in the natural environment.