Abstract: | In view of the possible reaction of ozone with sulfur containing natural and anthropogenic compounds, the oxidation products of sulfur-containing aliphatic model compounds in pure water in dependence on pH value were investigated. In the first part, as a model compound for thioether, thiodiglycolic acid was investigated. The rate of elimination is independent of pH-value. At pH 3 as primary product thionyldiglycolic acid is formed, which undergoes further oxidation, but very slowly, to sulfonediacetic acid, which is very stable against ozone attack at pH 3. At pH 7 and higher, however, thionyldiglycolic acid is oxidized faster to sulfonediacetic acid, and this compound is oxidized to sulfoacetic acid, oxalic acid, glyoxylic acid, sulfateion, and CO2 after longer reaction times. In all cases, sulfite as an inorganic intermediate product could not be identified. Also the intermediate products in pure solutions are ozonized. The mass balances show that 90 to 95% of the oxidation products could be identified. Based on these results, reaction schemes are discussed. |