Photocatalytic Oxidation of Phenolic Compounds by Using a Carbon Nanotube-Titanium Dioxide Composite Catalyst

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Claudia Gomes Silva (Author) FEUP; Joaquim Luis Faria (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: ChemSusChem

Vol. 3

Pages: 609-618

ISSN: 1864-5631

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 51 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 58 Citations

COMPENDEX

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-ACN

DOI: 10.1002/cssc.200900262

Abstract (EN): A nanostructured multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) and titanium dioxide composite Catalyst is prepared by a modified acid-catalyzed sol-gel method: Pure anatase TiO(2) and the CNT-TiO(2) composite are tested in the photocatalytic degradation of four para-substituted phenols: 4-chlorophenol, 4-aminophenol, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 4-nitrophenol. The effect of several operational parameters on the photoefficiency of the composite catalyst is studied by using 4-chlorophenol as model compound, namely catalyst loading, pH of the medium, hydrogen peroxide concentration, substrate concentration. A relationship between the Hammett constant of each para-substituted phenolic compound and its degradability by the photocatalysts is found. The effect of the carbon phase in the catalyst is ascribed to its photosensitizer action. A clear beneficial effect is observed for the degradation of 4-aminophenol and 4-chlorophenol. For the molecules with stronger electron-withdrawing (deactivating) groups, such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 4-nitrophenol, no synergy effect is observed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10