Analytical monitoring of photocatalytic treatments.: Degradation of 2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid in aqueous TiO2 dispersions

The photocatalytic degradation of 2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid (2,3,6-TBA) in aqueous TiO(2) dispersions irradiated with simulated solar light was investigated. Fast primary degradation of the herbicide, which obeys a pseudo-first order law, was observed. Complete mineralisation of the organic carbon to CO(2) was obtained after long term irradiation, with corresponding stoichiometric transformation of organic chlorine into chloride ion. Various aromatic intermediates, originating from 2,3,6-TBA, were detected during the treatment and identified using GC-MS. From the analytical data, a possible multi-step degradation scheme was proposed. The photocatalytic treatment of the pesticide was also performed in the presence of Brij 35 micellar solutions, although strong inhibition of the process was observed. When surfactant aggregates are present the photocatalytic destruction of 2,3,6-TBA is still possible at reasonable rates only after a proper dilution of the waste and by increasing significantly the semiconductor/pollutant ratio. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.