Utilization of nano size TiO2 for degradation of phenol enrich water by solar photocatalytic oxidation

Photocatalytic processes using TiO2 provides an interesting route to destroy hazardous organic contaminants in water such as phenol. Usage of TiO2 in presence of solar irradiation is considered as cost-effective technique. The solar photocatalytic degradation of phenol enrich water over prepared TiO2 has been studied. The catalyst was characterized by several techniques such as X-ray diffraction, gravimetric-differential thermal analysis, and Fourier transformation infra red spectroscopy. The results showed that the nanoparticle prepared from TiO2 can be used as an effective photocatalyst for phenol removal under solar radiation. Photocatalytic activity was mainly attributed to its size 19.6 nm and in turn large amount of surface hydroxyl species. Influence of pH, catalyst loading, and hydrogen peroxide dose were investigated during this study. At optimum dose of 0.50 g/L TiO2 and pH value of 8, phenol removal was about 72% of initial concentration of 50 ppm, which was achieved within 120 min of solar irradiation time. In presence of hydrogen peroxide, the removal was increased up to 78% within 90 min. It was found that the photocatalytic degradation of the phenol enrich water obeys the pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction within degradation process. The mechanism of oxidation as well as the intermediate compounds formed was detected by GC/MS.