Abstract
The photocatalytic decomposition of the herbicide (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA), C9H9ClO3, in aqueous suspensions containing TiO2 was investigated by following the formation of intermediates via recording proton NMR spectra. One of theoretically possible intermediates, 4-chloro-2-methylphenolmethanoate, was synthesized by a modified esterification procedure. Based on the data obtained a possible reaction mechanism was proposed. The rate of MCPA aromatic ring decomposition was followed by pH changes during illumination. As a result, apparent reaction rate constant was found to be 7.0×10−6moldm−3min−1. The complete mineralization was attained after about 15h of illumination.
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