Chlorination of chlortoluron: Kinetics, pathways and chloroform formation

Chlortoluron chlorination is studied in the pH range of 3–10 at 25 ± 1 °C. The chlorination kinetics can be well described by a second-order kinetics model, first-order in chlorine and first-order in chlortoluron. The apparent rate constants were determined and found to be minimum at pH 6, maximum at pH 3 and medium at alkaline conditions. The rate constant of each predominant elementary reactions (i.e., the acid-catalyzed reaction of chlortoluron with HOCl, the reaction of chlortoluron with HOCl and the reaction of chlortoluron with OCl−) was calculated as 3.12 (± 0.10) × 107 M−2 h−1, 3.11 (±0.39) × 102 M−1 h−1 and 3.06 (±0.47) × 103 M−1 h−1, respectively. The main chlortoluron chlorination by-products were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with purge-and-trap pretreatment, ultra-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-MS and GC-electron capture detector. Six volatile disinfection by-products were identified including chloroform (CF), dichloroacetonitrile, 1,1-dichloropropanone, 1,1,1-trichloropropanone, dichloronitromethane and trichloronitromethane. Degradation pathways of chlortoluron chlorination were then proposed. High concentrations of CF were generated during chlortoluron chlorination, with maximum CF yield at circumneutral pH range in solution.

► The kinetics of chlortoluron chlorination can be well described by a second-order model.
► Degradation pathways of chlortoluron chlorination were proposed.
► High concentrations of chloroform were generated with the maximum yield at circumneutral pH.