Application of Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS) on the Evaluation of Degradation Efficiency of Phenolic Compounds and Identification of By-Products from Produced Water

Application of the headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS) technique as an analytical tool to monitoring the degradation of phenolic compounds and the formation of by-products in produced water by UV photolysis and UV/peroxide is proposed. All of the experimental conditions for the degradation tests were carried out according to the response of the surface modeling methods developed. The direct photolysis and the UV/H2O2 processes were capable to degrade more than 99% of the initial concentrations of total phenolic components of produced water. The main by-product found was 2,6-di-tertbutylbenzoquinone (DBQ). The presence of DBQ and other hydroxy compounds, constituting the major fraction of by-products identified, demonstrates that the degradations are initiated by the oxidation of the aromatic phenolic ring generating quinones, diphenols, benzoic acids and phenones.