Microwave driven ultraviolet photo-decomposition of organophosphate species

A novel beaker shaped electrodeless ultraviolet lamp, excited by the radiation of a conventional microwave oven, has been employed in the breakdown of organophosphate compounds in preparation for colorimetric phosphate determination. This new approach offers a highly rapid method of organophosphate decomposition prior to their analysis, with complete breakdown being achieved within 3 min. When evaluated using a number of inorganic and organophosphate compounds, quantitative release of phosphate from a carbon oxygen bond was achieved. Photo-oxidation of the organic triphosphate adenosine 5'-triphosphate results in the release of triphosphate that can then be broken down to three orthophosphate units by acid hydrolysis.