TAML activator/peroxide-catalyzed facile oxidative degradation of the persistent explosives trinitrotoluene and trinitrobenzene in micellar solutions.

TAML activators are well-known for their ability to activate hydrogen peroxide to oxidize persistent pollutants in water. The trinitroaromatic explosives, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB), are often encountered together as persistent, toxic pollutants. Here we show that an aggressive TAML activator with peroxides boosts the effectiveness of the known surfactant/base promoted breakdown of TNT and transforms the surfactant induced nondestructive binding of base to TNB into an extensive multistep degradation process.

Total degradation of fenitrothion and other organophosphorus pesticides by catalytic oxidation employing Fe-TAML peroxide activators.

A Fe-TAML/H2O2 catalytic oxidation process achieves facile in-solution total degradation of fenitrothion and two other organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. Degradation products have been identified and quantified providing evidence for oxidative hydrolysis, oxidative desulfuration, perhydrolysis, and deep oxidation. Degradation pathways can be selected by pH control to completely obviate all toxic residuals.