Rapid degradation of tetrabromobisphenol A under the UV/TiO2/KPS systems in alkaline aqueous solutions

Abstract

In this study, rapid degradation of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is explored by using photocatalysis of homo/heterogeneous UV/TiO2/potassium persulfate (KPS) systems in alkaline solutions. The experimental results show increasing pH values and decreasing the initial concentration of TBBPA could increase the degradation degree, while the loading amount of TiO2 and dosage of potassium persulfate have optimum values to increase the degradation degree. TBBPA can be almost completely degraded and 70% of TOC removal efficiency is achieved in the UV/TiO2/KPS homo/heterogeneous photocatalysis, much more than the UV/KPS system and UV/TiO2 system. Roles of radicals $$\text{SO}_{\text{4}}^{ \cdot - }$$ and OH· in the photocatalysis systems are discussed based on experimental measurements. The significant TOC removal efficiency and increased bromide ion concentration yield show that there exist synergistic effects in the UV/TiO2/KPS homo/heterogeneous photocatalysis, which can mineralize TBBPA into inorganic small molecules relatively thoroughly, thus much less intermediates are formed in the UV/TiO2/KPS homo/heterogeneous photocatalysis.