Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen, tergitol and nonylphenol with catalysts TiO2/Ag under UV and Vis light

Nanoparticles of silver deposited on TiO2 have been tested as catalysts for the removal of three organic molecules with photocatalysis treatments. The catalysts were prepared by the photodeposit method and characterized by ray techniques (R-X) and scanning electronic microscopy and EDS, as well as by diffuse reflectance. The values of the surface area were determined by N-2-physisorption. The photocatalysis is an efficient treatment for the removal of numerous organic compounds; however, when the catalyst is modified by the addition of metal particles as silver, its efficiency can be increased and even be activated in visible light. To establish the kinetic parameters, it was used high-performance liquid chromatography and UV spectroscopy; the results show that the amount of the dopant does not have influence in the value of the catalyst band gap. But if it has influence on the surface area of the catalyst. The removal of organic material is increased when the concentration of the dopant decreases for acetaminophen and nonylphenol polyethylene glycol (NPG). Doped catalyst removal capacity also depends on the characteristics of the molecule to be treated as it was verified with the use of visible light where the removal percentages for the NPG were higher in comparison with the use of UV radiation.