| Advanced oxidation processes, such as photocatalysis, are attractive water treatment options in which the generation of a strong oxidizing species, the hydroxyl radical (·OH), is responsible for the mineralization of pollutants bearing reduced carbons. This work aims to assess the photocatalytic degradation of phenolic compounds in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanoparticles (in aqueous) and UV light. Individual and combined effects of experimental variables such as TiO2 particle size (5, 10 and 32 nm), temperature (23, 30 and 37°C) and reactant type (phenol, o-cresol, m-cresol) on the apparent degradation rate constant was determined. The largest photocatalytic activity was observed at an optimum TiO2 particle size of 10 nm for all reactants. Increasing apparent degradation rate constants were observed as follows: o-cresol > m-cresol > phenol. No statistical correlation was observed between any of the experimental variable. |
