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Title: Catalytic Photodegradation of p-aminobenzoic Acid on TiO2 Nanowires with High Surface Area.

Journal Article · · Ambientis (Online)
OSTI ID:1335899
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Turabo, Gurabo (Puerto Rico). School of Science and Technology

Pharmaceutical personal care products (PPCP’s) production and consumption have increased exponentially in recent years due to medicine and technology advances related to the development of dangerous skin diseases such as cancer. These PPCP’s usually are found in wastewaters and their removal represents a very important environmental issue. With the aim of studying the possible degradation of these compounds, we have synthesized TiO2 nanowires (rutile phase) that have been fully characterized by BET measurements, XRD and SEM and used in the photodegradation reaction of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Furthermore, we studied the photocatalytic degradation of PABA under different experimental conditions (i.e. catalyst loading). The photocatalytic reaction was monitored as a function of time by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The highest degradation rate occurred with 1.0 g L-1 of catalyst while the reaction does not proceed without radiation or in absence of the catalyst. Our present work demonstrates that p-aminobenzoic acid could be successfully degraded in a relatively short time period with high degradation percentages.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Turabo, Gurabo (Puerto Rico)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0000672
OSTI ID:
1335899
Journal Information:
Ambientis (Online), Vol. 1; ISSN 2164-6759
Publisher:
Universidad del TuraboCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English