ISSN: 2157-7048
+44-77-2385-9429
Dorothy W Skaf
Villanova, PA 19085
Tanzania
Research Article
The Effects of Photocatalyst and Solution Co-Contaminants on
Photocatalytic Oxidation of 1,3- Dinitrobenzene in Aqueous Semiconductor
Oxide Suspensions
Author(s): Dorothy W Skaf, Amanda Grannas, Daniel Colotti and Eric BowesDorothy W Skaf, Amanda Grannas, Daniel Colotti and Eric Bowes
Heterogeneous photocatalysis of 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) using simulated solar irradiation in the presence of semiconductor oxides was studied. Comparison of TiO2 and ZnO showed that the former was a more efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of DNB. The addition of potential environmental co-contaminants such as acetic acid, fulvic acid and seawater salts to the DNB solutions all inhibited the DNB degradation rate. The addition of hydroxyl radical-generating compounds, including H2O2 and NaNO3, to the DNB solutions both slightly reduced the DNB degradation rate, indicating that hydroxyl radical generation is not a rate limiting step in the overall reaction process. The use of 5 volume % acetone cosolvent slowed the degradation rate, however for 15 volume % acetone despite the slower relative rate of destruction, the higher concentrations of DNB provided higher mass destruction .. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2157-7048.1000275