Influence of water on the photodegradation of poly(ethylene oxide)

The UV-light degradation of polyethylene oxide (PEO) in aqueous solution was investigated operating under long wavelengths (λ > 300 nm) at 20 °C in different pH conditions varying from 2.3 to 12.0 and at two different concentrations. Thermo-oxidation experiments on PEO aqueous solution at 50 °C are also reported and compared to photo-oxidation results. The formation of oxidation products was followed by infrared analysis of deposits obtained by evaporation of aliquots of irradiated polymer solution. Photo-oxidation led to formates and esters but a third product was also identified, formic acid ions formed by partial hydrolysis of formates. The degradation of PEO in water led to the acidification of the aquatic medium. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used to monitor the changes in molar weight and intrinsic viscosity with irradiation time. It was shown that the photo-oxidation produced a dramatic decrease of the average molar weights which is more important in acidic medium. Total organic carbon (TOC) measurements of the aged aqueous solutions showed that the mineralization of PEO could not be achieved in these photo-oxidative conditions.