Photocatalytic Degradation of the Tributyltin by Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysts

Abstract

Tributyltin (TBT) in water was photocatalytically decomposed in the presence of TiO2 film photo-catalyst, which was prepared by coating TiO2 on the industry pure titanium foil. The photocatalytic decomposition rate of TBT is up to 93.8% within 30 min. Photocatalytic decomposition of TBT was greatly enhanced with rate constant nearly 3 times as that by photolysis. TBT decomposed in a stepwise manner, and the main products were monobutyltin (MBT), which is further decomposed to inorganic tin in the system.