title: Photocatalytic degradation of nitrotoluene in aqueous TiO2 suspension.
abstract: TiO2-mediated photocatalytic degradation process was employed to treat aqueous 2-, 3- and 4-NT (nitrotoluene) pollutants. The NT disappearance and TOC removal rates for three isomers showed no significant differences. Three hydroxylated aromatic intermediates resulting from the photocatalytic degradation of 4-NT were identified; this suggested two (initial) degradation pathways. Formation of acetic acid, formic acid, and formaldehyde was also noted. The mineralization products included NH4+, NO3- and CO2. N2 bubbling or the presence of a positive hole acceptor during 4-NT degradation resulted in a high 4-aminotoluene formation. This indicated an effective reduction of 4-NT's nitro group to amino moiety. Generally, Pt-loaded TiO2 (Pt-TiO2) had no influence on the disappearance rate of 4-NT. However, the use of Pt-TiO2 along with a higher light intensity source resulted in an accelerated TOC removal.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Shariq
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D007536:Isomerism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010777:Photochemistry; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014050:Toluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D014873:Water Pollutants; C009495:titanium dioxide; C029956:3-nitrotoluene; D014050:Toluene; D010984:Platinum; C029955:2-nitrotoluene; D014025:Titanium; C017572:4-nitrotoluene