Chemical changes of organic compounds in chlorinated water. XVI. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric studies of reactions of tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with hypochlorite in dilute aqueous solution.

The products of aqueous chlorination reactions of tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (fluorene, carbazole, dibenzofuran, anthracene, phenanthrene and some methyl derivatives) with hypochlorite have been determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. They included chloro-substituted, oxygenated (quinones) and hydroxylated (phenols) compounds, and products of addition which were readily formed at ambient temperature. The extent of the reactions was shown to depend on the chlorine dose, the solution pH, the initial concentrations of both compounds and the structures. Monochlorinated compounds and quinones were shown to be present in chlorinated water under the conditions utilized for water treatment.