The influence of metal ions on the photocatalytic oxidation of 2-chlorophenol in aqueous titanium dioxide suspensions

This study investigated the effect of metal ions,such as Fe3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+, on the photocatalytic oxidation of 2-chlorophenol with illumination of 254 nm and 365 nm UV lights. Different metal ions have individual reduction potentials, and hence, their abilities to capture electrons also differ; the rates of 2-chlorophenol decomposition vary as well. This study was made to explore the relationships between the reduction potentials of different metal ions and their photocatalytic rates of 2-chlorophenol. Results show that when the reduction potential is greater than zero, regardless of illumination wavelength, the reaction rate increases with increasing reduction potentials of the metal ions. When the reduction potential is less than zero, the reaction rates are about the same for illumination of 365 nm or 254 nm UV lights.