Photocatalytic degradation of aqueous propoxur solution using TiO2 and Hbeta zeolite-supported TiO2

J Hazard Mater. 2009 Jan 15;161(1):336-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.03.098. Epub 2008 Mar 29.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Catalysis
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Molecular Structure
  • Photochemistry
  • Propoxur / chemistry*
  • Solutions
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Zeolites / chemistry*

Substances

  • Solutions
  • Zeolites
  • titanium dioxide
  • Propoxur
  • Titanium