Kinetics and mechanisms of degradation of creatinine by hypochlorite

In view of increasing concern about the reaction of chlorine with nitrogenous organic compounds of biological origin in natural water and swimming pool water, studies were carried out on the reaction of hypochlorite with creatinine. Mono- and di-chlorocreatinine might be formed rapidly in neutral or slightly alkaline solution. In acid solution, trichlorocreatinine was also formed. The stability of these compounds depended mainly on the pH value of the solution. With increasing dose of chlorine, the chlorocreatinines were decomposed to regenerate creatinine, which was further degraded, the final products depending on the molar ratio of hypochlorite and creatinine.