Zinc ferrites can induce the photodegradation of many organic pollutants. Here ZnFe₂O₄ has been used as a catalyst to photocatalytically degrade 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP). Using GS–MS, an unusual ferrite induced photohydrolysis of aromatic moiety of dinitrophenols was observed. At least two new compounds, 6-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrohexa-2,4-dienal and 4,6-dinitrocyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,3-diol, were unambiguously identified by GC–MS, which resulted by the addition of one or two molecules of water, with the corresponding disappearance of uncoupling properties of the parent 2,4-DNP. The photochemical mechanism of 2,4-DNP degradation was investigated and OH• radical generation using isopropyl alcohol and terephthalic acid test was demonstrated. Additionally, only 5 min of irradiation in the presence of ZnFe₂O₄ may be enough for the degradation of very hazardous compounds to inoffensive ones, and it may afford nonaromatic derivatives. The germination experiments, using the supernatant obtained after 2,4-DNP photodegradation, show the total lack of toxicity on wheat seeds and seedling. Thus, the 10⁻³ M 2,4-DNP solution inhibited wheat germination and produced no seedlings, while the average height of the shoots resulted from the supernatant-treated seeds was 8.48 ± 0.84 cm, higher than 7.51 ± 0.92 cm in the H₂O-treated control samples. The obtained results suggest a great potential for application of the ZnFe₂O₄ for solving some environmental problems.

铁酸锌可以诱导许多有机污染物的光降解。此处ZnFe ₂ O ₄已被用作光催化降解2,4-二硝基苯酚（2,4-DNP）的催化剂。使用GS-MS，观察到异常的铁氧体诱导的二硝基苯酚芳族部分的光水解。GC-MS明确鉴定了至少两种新化合物6-羟基-3,5-二硝基己-2,4-二烯丙基和4,6-二硝基环己-3,5-二烯-1,3-二醇通过添加一或两个分子的水，相应地消失了母体2,4-DNP的解偶联性质。研究了2,4-DNP降解的光化学机理，并用异丙醇和对苯二甲酸测试证明了OH•自由基的产生。此外，在ZnFe ₂ O ₄存在下仅照射5分钟可能足以将非常危险的化合物降解为无害的化合物，并且可以提供非芳香族衍生物。使用2,4-DNP光降解后获得的上清液进行的发芽实验表明，对小麦种子和幼苗完全没有毒性。因此，10 ^-3 M 2,4-DNP溶液抑制了小麦发芽，并且没有产生幼苗，而上清液处理过的种子产生的平均芽高为8.48±0.84 cm，高于H中的7.51±0.92 cm _2个O处理过的对照样品。所得结果表明，ZnFe ₂ O ₄在解决一些环境问题方面具有很大的潜力。