The Sensitized Photocatalysis of a Mixed Reactant System of 4-Chlorophenol and 4-Nitrophenol

by Melissa S. Dieckmann, Univ of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, United States,
Kimberly A. Gray, Univ of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, United States,
Prashant V. Kamat, Univ of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Critical Issues in Water and Wastewater Treatment

Abstract:

Sensitized photocatalysis has been demonstrated with colored pollutants such as nitrophenols. With visible light excitation of an adsorbed nitrophenolic compound, charge injection into the conduction band of the semiconductor occurs and subsequent transformation of nitrophenols to a variety of products is possible. These phenomena have been observed in powder systems of TiO₂, but have not been clearly detailed in aqueous systems. This work reports the results of aqueous TiO₂ slurry experiments in which the degradation of 4-nitrophenyl and 4-chlorophenyl is studied in single reactant and mixed reactant systems. The primary objectives of this work are to establish the reaction pathway occurring in sensitized photocatalysis and to determine if sensitization can induce/drive the degradation of non-colored pollutants. The influence of organic concentration, oxygen and light energy are discussed and byproduct data are presented.

Subject Headings: Pollutants | Chemical degradation | Water treatment | Water pollution | Phenol | Excitation (physics) | Wastes

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