Photocatalytic degradation of chlorinated ethenes

Abstract

Degradation of three chlorinated ethenes, trichloroethylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, by UV-light irradiatedTiO2catalyst prepared by the sol-gel method in dry air at ambient temperature have been examined by using FTIR measurement. The chlorinated ethenes rapidly decomposed to produce dichloroacethyl chloride, CO, HCl, andCOCL2. For trans- and cis-1,2-DCE systems isomerization to each other is found to be the first step of the degradation. The C = C bond of the chlorinated ethenes interacts directly withTiO2site and, consequently, the degradation results in several products on the catalyst surface in these systems.