p-NITROPHENOL PHOTOCATALYSIS ON NANOSTRUCTURED TiO2 FILMS

The photocatalytic activity of supported TiO2 nanostructures (nanotubes and nanoparticles) was evaluated kinetically during the p-nitrophenol oxidation. The results were compared with those obtained using nanoparticles in suspension and a thin film of catalyst respectively. The nanotubes were synthesized electrochemically by titanium anodization in HF electrolyte; the nanoparticles were synthesized in microemulsion by TiCl4 chemical oxidation. The degradation was carried out in a flow reaction system with recirculation in presence of UV light provided by a solar simulator. It was found that both nanostructures degrade the organic matter efficiently following the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model; supported nanoparticles have a maximum reaction rate of 3.3 times faster than the thin film, the nanotubes are 2.5 times faster than the supported nanoparticles, and nanoparticles in suspension are 1.3 times faster than the nanotubes.