Photolysis of benzotriazole and formation of its polymerised photoproducts in aqueous solutions under UV irradiation

Environmental context Benzotriazole is an anti-corrosion agent that is widely applied in various industrial processes and in household products. It has been found persistent in various aquatic environments. Our investigation found that benzotriazole can be rapidly transformed under UV light to form several photoproducts. Photolysis rates decreased with increasing solution pH, whereas salinity had no significant effect. Metal species Cu2+ and Fe3+, and humic acid in aquatic environment could have inhibitory effects on the photolysis of benzotriazole. Abstract Benzotriazole (BT) is an anti-corrosion agent used widely in some industrial processes and household products, and it has been detected in surface water and ground water due to its high mobility and low biodegradability. We have investigated the photolysis of benzotriazole in aqueous solutions under UV radiation at 254 nm and the effect of pH, salinity, metal species and dissolved organic matter on the photo-transformation processes. Benzotriazole was found to undergo rapid transformation to form several photoproducts. The half-lives for the photolysis of benzotriazole ranged from 2.8 to 14.3 h in various aqueous solutions containing metal ions and dissolved organic matter. Photolysis rates decreased with increasing solution pH, whereas salinity had no significant effect. Metal species Cu2+ and Fe3+, and especially humic acid had inhibitory effects on the photolysis of benzotriazole under UV light irradiation at 254 nm. We propose the formation of three major photoproducts via instantaneous polymerisation of small intermediates generated during the photolysis of benzotriazole including 2,6-diethylaniline, phenazine and 1,6-dihydroxyphenazine.