Photocatalytic degradation of aqueous propoxur solution using TiO2 and Hbeta zeolite-supported TiO2.
Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and zeolites supported TiO2 were investigated using propoxur as a model pollutant. Hbeta, HY and H-ZSM-5 zeolites were examined as supports for TiO2. Hbeta was chosen as the TiO2 support based on the adsorption capacity of propoxur on these zeolites (Hbeta>HY=H-ZSM-5). TiO2/Hbeta photocatalysts with different wt.% were prepared and characterized by XRD, FT-IR and BET surface area. The progress of photocatalytic degradation of aqueous propoxur solution using TiO2 (Degussa P-25) and TiO2 supported on Hbeta zeolite was monitored using TOC analyzer, HPLC and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The degradation of propoxur was systematically studied by varying the experimental parameters in order to achieve maximum degradation efficiency. The initial rate of degradation with TiO2/Hbeta was higher than with bare TiO2. TOC results revealed that TiO2 requires 600min for complete mineralization of propoxur whereas TiO2/Hbeta requires only 480min. TiO2/Hbeta showed enhanced photodegradation due to its high adsorption capacity on which the pollutant molecules are pooled closely and hence degraded effectively.
Mahalakshmi
M
M
Department of Chemistry, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India.
Vishnu Priya
S
S
Arabindoo
Banumathi
B
Palanichamy
M
M
Murugesan
V
V
D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010777:Photochemistry; D001074:Propoxur / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
D012996:Solutions; D017641:Zeolites; C009495:titanium dioxide; D001074:Propoxur; D014025:Titanium