Hydroxyl radical from the reaction between hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide

We studied the reaction between hypochlorite anion (−OCl) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by using spin-trapping agents such as 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and 5-diethoxy-phosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO). The obtained data demonstrate that hydroxyl radical is produced in this reaction. Thus, −OCl and H2O2 could assume new relevance in environmental chemistry by representing a potential source of hydroxyl radicals and other oxidant species, such as HO–OCl and OCl radical.