Photo-oxidation of floating hydrocarbon oils in the presence of some naphthalene derivatives

Samples of pure isopropylbenzene and methylbenzene and of a commercial mineral oil, Dobane, containing various concentrations of 1-hydroxynaphthalene, naphthalene-α-aldehyde and 1-nitro-naphthalene were floated on water as layers 0.6 cm thick and irradiated with ultraviolet light over periods of 240 min.By combining measurements of the changes occurring in interfacial tension with chemical and physical analysis of the oil and water phases, it has been possible to identify some of the products of photo-oxidation and to propose mechanisms for the reactions.