Photocatalytic Degradation of p-Cresol by Zinc Oxide under UV Irradiation

Photocatalytic degradation of p-cresol was carried out using ZnO under UV irradiation. The amount of photocatalyst, concentration of p-cresol and pH were studied as variables. The residual concentration and mineralization of p-cresol was monitored using a UV-visible spectrophotometer and total organ...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abdollahi, Yadollah, Abdullah, Abdul Halim, Zainal, Zulkarnain, Yusof, Nor Azah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms13010302 2011
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18779/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18779/1/Photocatalytic%20Degradation%20of%20p-cresol.pdf
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Summary:Photocatalytic degradation of p-cresol was carried out using ZnO under UV irradiation. The amount of photocatalyst, concentration of p-cresol and pH were studied as variables. The residual concentration and mineralization of p-cresol was monitored using a UV-visible spectrophotometer and total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer, respectively. The intermediates were detected by ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UPLC). The highest photodegradation of p-cresol was observed at 2.5 g/L of ZnO and 100 ppm of p-cresol. P-cresol photocatalytic degradation was favorable in the pH range of 6-9. The detected intermediates were 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and 4-methyl-1,2-benzodiol. TOC studies show that 93% of total organic carbon was removed from solution during irradiation time. Reusability shows no significant reduction in photocatalytic performance in photodegrading p-cresol.