The Use of para-Chlorobenzoic Acid (pCBA) as an Ozone/Hydroxyl Radical Probe Compound

Since OH^· radicals cannot be measured directly during an ozonation process, para-chlorobenzoic acid (pCBA) has been used recently as an OH^· radical probe compound during ozonation based on its very slow direct reaction with ozone and fast reaction with OH^· radicals. However, in experiments of this study it was shown that pCBA accelerated ozone decay. Furthermore, the formation of hydrogen peroxide was observed during this process. The formed H₂O₂ increases the decomposition of aqueous ozone and leads to enhanced formation of OH^· radicals. The chain reaction therefore changes to HO₂ ^? ion initiated decay of ozone instead of hydroxide ion, OH^?. Thus, an error in applying pCBA as a probe compound in low scavenger containing waters is likely to occur if the scavenging rate of pCBA makes up more than 5% of the total scavenging rate.