Evaluation of the Oxidation of Organic Compounds by Aqueous Suspensions of Photosensitized Hydroxylated-C60 Fullerene Aggregates

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiated polyhydroxylated fullerene (fullerol) nanomaterials are examined for their potential to degrade organic compounds via reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated by a photosensitization process. Organic compounds were selected for their sensitivity to individual species of reactive oxygen (hydroxyl radical (·OH−) for degradation of salicylic acid (SA); singlet oxygen (1O2) for degradation of 2-chlorophenol (2CP), and superoxide (O2 ·−) for oxidation of ethanol) and were monitored over time in aqueous suspensions of fullerol aggregates. Only the 2CP showed significant degradation underscoring the specificity of the fullerol in producing singlet oxygen in these conditions. Monitoring these processes via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed that organic compounds degraded primarily by ROS over a range of fullerol concentrations, pH values, and temperatures.