Reactivity of chloromethanes with photogenerated hydrated electrons

Ferrocyanide ion illuminated with proper light has shown to generate hydrated electrons. The photogenerated solvated electron may interact with substances present in solution reducing organic compounds present in aqueous solution. We have investigated the reductive degradation of chloromethanes (tetrachloromethane, chloroform and dichloromethane) adopting ferrocyanide system under anaerobic conditions and the obtained results have been compared with those obtained with the pulse radiolysis; a good correlation between the rate of disappearance evaluated with the two techniques is achieved.