Titanium dioxide mediated photocatalytic degradation of monochlorobenzene in aqueous phase.
The reaction sequence for the photocatalytic degradation of monochlorobenzene (MCB) in UV/TiO2 process, including substrate adsorption, degradation, and mineralization, was studied. The theoretical maximum quantity of MCB that could be adsorbed onto TiO2 surface in aqueous phase was 0.18+/-0.04 micromol m(-2) of TiO2. In accordance with the upper limit of the relative surface coverage of MCB molecules to surface hydroxyls of TiO2 was around 2.2%, the water molecules as the major adjacent species near TiO2 surface would compete with MCB molecules. Increasing the initial substrate concentration to an appropriate value or enhancing the affinity between the MCB and the TiO2 surface by adjusting the solution pH would promote the photocatalytic degradation. Experimental results revealed that the neutral medium was beneficial for the degradation of MCB. In comparison, the mineralization was most improved at acidic condition. Generally, 90% of the total organic carbon (TOC) was mineralized after 240 min illumination time in the examined pH range except solution pH 11. The suppressed mineralization of MCB at solution pH 11 was ascribed to the lack of adsorption. A simplified 2-step consecutive kinetic model was used to simulate the mineralization.
Huang
Hsin-Hsu
HH
Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli 32001, Taiwan. s8326007@cc.ncu.edu.tw <s8326007@cc.ncu.edu.tw>
Tseng
Dyi-Hwa
DH
Juang
Lain-Chuen
LC
D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D010777:Photochemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; C031294:chlorobenzene