The microwave-assisted photo-catalytic degradation of organic dyes

Abstract

In this study, TiO2 photo-catalyst balls produced by the chemical vapour deposition method were used for degradation of organic dyes in which simultaneous irradiation of microwave and UV was evaluated. An electrodeless UV lamp that emits UV upon the irradiation of microwave was developed to irradiate microwave and UV simultaneously. The degradation reaction rate was shown to be higher with higher microwave intensity, under stronger acidic or basic conditions, and with a larger amount of O2 gas or H2O2 addition. The effect of addition of H2O2 was not significant when photo-catalysis was used without additional microwave irradiation or when microwave was irradiated without the use of photo-catalysts. When H2O2 was added under simultaneous use of photo-catalysis and microwave irradiation, however, considerably higher degradation reaction rates were observed.