TY - GEN A1 - Kuhn, Ramona A1 - Tóth, Elisabeth A1 - Geppert, Helmut A1 - Fischer, Thomas A1 - Martienssen, Marion T1 - Identification of the Complete Photodegradation Pathway of Ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) in Aqueous Solution T2 - Clean - soil, air, water : a journal of sustainability and environmental safety N2 - This study aims at investigating the abiotic degradation pathway of ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (EDTMP) simulated applying UV irradiation. The degradation of EDTMP and formation of degradation products was determined using LC-MS and ³¹P-NMR. In the laboratory scale experiments, EDTMP was degraded within 30 min and the degradation products, iminodi(methylenephosphonic acid) (IDMP), ethylaminobis(methylenephosphonic acid) (EABMP), and amino- (methylenephosphonic acid) (AMPA), were simultaneously released. IDMP was the main degradation product of EDTMP. Therefore, we conclude that the initial cleavage of EDTMP is a heterolytically driven process, which starts the degradation process at the intramolecular C-N bond. In contrast, the main product of a possible homolytic C-C cleavage of methylaminobis(methylenephosphonic acid) could not be confirmed with either LC-MS or ³¹P-NMR. Additionally, there was no evidence for a primary attack on the C-P bond. All identified degradation products of EDTMP have been mineralized to carbon dioxide (CO₂). Three additional degradation products (M1, M2, and M3) have been found using the ³¹P-NMR analysis but have not yet been quantified using LC-MS. We assume that the unidentified degradation product M1 is related to m/z 312, M2 to m/z 341, and M3 to m/z 409. Thus we concluded that EDTMP undergoes photochemical conversion to IDMP, the main degradation product. EABMP and AMPA also accumulate, but in smaller amounts. All intermediates are further mineralized to CO₂. KW - EDTMP KW - LC-MS KW - 31P-NMR KW - Phosphonates KW - Photodegradation Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201500774 SN - 1863-0669 VL - 45 IS - 5 SP - 1 EP - 8 ER -