Pollutants as Byproducts and Degradation Products of Chemical Syntheses

Abstract

Byproducts of industrial organic syntheses are emitted with the wastewater into the River Rhine;in many cases they are polar and poorly biodegradable. Applying a well-planned strategy as wellas combining various modern spectroscopic methods, it was possible to identify a series of relevantbyproducts. Among the identified compounds there were halogenated aromatic acids, lactone isomers,sulfinates, sorbose derivatives, as well as substituted phosphorous oxides. All of them could, afteridentification, also be detected in the River Rhine. In most cases a cooperative discussionwith the producers led to a measurable reduction of emissions into the Rhine.