A Study of Testing the Nanocatalyst Decomposition Efficiency of Methanol (CH3OH) and Ethanol (C2H6O)

Abstract

This research carries out an inexpensive, rapid and novel exercise, which is applied to perform the photocatalyst decomposition effectiveness of Methanol and Ethanol in gaseous form. The major devices of this applicable measurement developed by this practice are only utilizing ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and quartz cuvette, and the experimental procedures are straightforward and speedy. In the conduct experiments, Methanol and Ethanol with a specific concentration is initially injected into an enclosed quartz cuvette. Then the cuvette is put in ultraviolet- visible spectrophotometer to measure the Methanol and Ethanol concentration, so as to obtain an unique UV absorbance spectrum at its particular concentration. In the conduct experiments of measuring photocatalyst decomposition efficiency, the self-made (SANSS) nanocatalyst TiO2 is initially coated in the quartz plate, and put into the quartz. Then a specific concentration of methanol alcohol and ethanol is injected into the quartz cuvette under the UV irradiation exposure, so as to carry out photodecomposition of Methanol and Ethanol experiment. After that, the cuvettes are then put into the ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer for measuring the absorbance intensity of UV spectrums in order to produce degradation chart. The preliminary results point out that the self-made nanocatalyst TiO2 has exceptionally outstanding decomposition efficiency which further points out the fact that, when UV irradiation for 60minutes, the gaseous Methanol can be reduced to 3.8% of the original sample, and the gaseous Ethanol can be reduced to 6% of the original sample. But when exercising with commercial nanocatalyst TiO2 to undergo the same process exactly under the same circumstances, the residue gaseous concentration can only be reduced to 17% and 16% of the gaseous Methanol and Ethanol original sample.