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Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen in modified TiO2 under visible irradiation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 21, pages 1208–1216 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

This study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen (ACT) in synthetic titanium dioxide (TiO2) solution under a visible light (λ >440 nm). The TiO2 photocatalyst used in this study was synthesized via sol–gel method and doped with potassium aluminum sulfate (KAl(SO4)2) and sodium aluminate (NaAlO2). The influence of some parameters on the degradation of acetaminophen was examined, such as initial pH, photocatalyst dosage, and initial ACT concentration. The optimal operational conditions were also determined. Results showed that synthetic TiO2 catalysts presented mainly as anatase phase and no rutile phase was observed. The results of photocatalytic degradation showed that LED alone degraded negligible amount of ACT but with the presence of TiO2/KAl(SO4)2, 95 % removal of 0.10-mM acetaminophen in 540-min irradiation time was achieved. The synthetic TiO2/KAl(SO4)2 presented better photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen than commercially available Degussa P-25. The weak crystallinity of synthesized TiO2/NaAlO2 photocatalyst showed low photocatalytic degradation than TiO2/KAl(SO4)2. The optimal operational conditions were obtained in pH 6.9 with a dose of 1.0 g/L TiO2/KAl(SO4)2 at 30 °C. Kinetic study illustrated that photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen fits well in the pseudo-first order model. Competitive reactions from intermediates affected the degradation rate of ACT, and were more obvious as the initial ACT concentration increased.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of Taiwan, for financially supporting this research under Contract No. NSC 101-2923-E-041-001-MY2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon, 1101, Philippines

    Maria Lourdes P. Dalida

  2. Environmental Engineering Program, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon, 1101, Philippines

    Kristine Marfe S. Amer

  3. Department of Environmental Resources Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, 717, Taiwan

    Chia-Chi Su & Ming-Chun Lu

Authors
  1. Maria Lourdes P. Dalida
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  2. Kristine Marfe S. Amer
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  3. Chia-Chi Su
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  4. Ming-Chun Lu
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Correspondence to Ming-Chun Lu.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Dalida, M.L.P., Amer, K.M.S., Su, CC. et al. Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen in modified TiO2 under visible irradiation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 1208–1216 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2003-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2003-4

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