Photocatalytic degradation of Triton X-100using silica gel modified by nano scale TiO2 under UV and solar irradiation

Aqueous solutions of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 have been treated by a photocatalytic process employing silica gel modified by nano scale TiO2 as a photocatalyst. Results showed that solutions of Triton X-100 at maximum possible concentration can be photodegraded in a time of a few hours by using low intensity UV radiation comparable with that of the solar noon. The photocatalytic degradation capacity of the TiO2 nanoparticles underUV- irradiation was higher than that of solar irradiation. Effect of some variables such as photocatalyst dose morphology and initial concentration of Triton X-100 on the degradation of the Triton X-100 was investigated under the UV and solar irradiation. Application study was also carried out to find the suitability of the process in waste water tretment operation.

Keywords:

Photocatlytic degradation , Triton X-100 , Nano TiO2 , Solar irradiation