PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF 3-CHLOROPHENOL USING Pd/Ag DOPED ON P25 DEGUSSA TiO2 NANOPARTICLE WITH UV RADIATION

Abstract

Photocatalytic degradation of 3-chlorophenol was investigated using Pd/Ag doped on P25 Degussa TiO2. The Pd/AgTiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by sol immobilization method. A fabricated photo-reactor was used in photocatalytic degradation of 3-chlorophenol and monitored using HPLC. The experimental results indicates that doping of Pd/Ag on TiO2 increases the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2. The experimental results indicates that Pd/ TiO2 has a photodegradation efficiency of 40.44% while Ag/TiO2 has a photodegradation efficiency of 60.44%. The dried catalysts were subsequently used again under the same experimental condition with a fresh 3-chlorophenol up to four (4) times. The result indicates that the re-used catalysts remain active for up to four (4) times of usage with minor reduction in activity, which is attributed to metal leaching. Ag/TiO2 has higher rate constant of - 0.019 than Pd/TiO2 which is -0.031, the rate constant for the degradation followed first-order reaction kinetics. The photocatalytic degradation of 3-chlorophenol indicates unstable degradation due to effect of inductive and mesomeric effect which is less on meta-position. The use of nanotechnology in wastewater treatment plants to curtail the environmental and health consequences of a widespread of organic pollutants should be encouraged.