title: Enhanced phenol-photodegradation by particulate semiconductor mixtures: interparticle electron-jump.
abstract: Degradation of phenol on suspended TiO(2), ZnO, CdO, Fe(2)O(3), CuO, ZnS and Nb(2)O(5) particles under UV-A light exhibit identical photokinetic behavior; follow first-order kinetics, display linear dependence on the photon flux and slowdown with increase of pH. All the semiconductors show sustainable photocatalytic activity. Dissolved O(2) is essential for the photodegradation and oxidizing agents like H(2)O(2), Na(2)BO(3), K(2)S(2)O(8), KBrO(3), KIO(3) and KIO(4), reducing agents such as NaNO(2) and Na(2)SO(3) and sacrificial electron donors like hydroquinone, diphenyl amine and trimethyl amine enhance the degradation. However, the photocatalysis is insensitive to pre-sonication. Two particulate semiconductors present together, under suspension and at continuous motion, enhance the photocatalytic degradation up to about four-fold revealing interparticle electron-jump.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608002, Tamilnadu, India. karunakaranc@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karunakaran
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhanalakshmi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gomathisankar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manikandan
mesh_terms: D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D019800:Phenol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010782:Photolysis; D012666:Semiconductors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D019800:Phenol; D010100:Oxygen