Solubilization of organics in water coupled with sulphite autoxidation

The autoxidation of aqueous SO2 (HSO−3, SO2−3) was applied to induce the solubilization of organic compounds modelling oil components (toluene, naphthalene, paraffin oil) in water. Experiments were performed in laboratory absorbers, a froth column and a tank reactor with a planar gas-liquid interface, under mild conditions. Basing on the spectrophotometric and chromatographic evidence for the successive substitution of sulphonic acid functions, the route for sulphonation of these compounds was suggested. The results of kinetic measurements related to the formation of SVI due to oxidation of SIV and to the decay of the initial organic compound due to its sulphonation were discussed in terms of a chain reaction with competitive inhibition. The possible use of the induced solubilization of oil components for the removal of oil splashes, for instance in sewage management, was put forward.