Photodegradation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-nitrosodiethylamine in water with UV irradiation

The direct photolysis of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in water with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was investigated. Results showed that NDEA could be completely degraded under the direct UV irradiation. The effects of the experimental conditions, including the initial concentration of NDEA, humic acid and solution pH, were studied. The degradation products of NDEA were identified and quantified with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was confirmed that methylamine (MA), dimethylamine (DMA), ethylamine (EA), diethylamine (DEA), NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ were the main degradation products. The photolysis degradation mechanism of NDEA was also discussed. As a result of N-N bond fission, NDEA was degraded by direct UV irradiation. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50578052) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2007AA06Z339)