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Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Vol.31, No.2, 145-157, 2001
Photocatalytic degradation pathway of methylene blue in water
The TiO2/UV photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) has been investigated in aqueous heterogeneous suspensions. In addition to a prompt removal of the color, TiO2/LTV-based photocatalysis was simultaneously able to oxidize the dye, with an almost complete mineralization of carbon and of nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms into CO2 NH4+, NO3- and SO42- respectively. A detailed degradation pathway has been determined by a careful identification of intermediate products, in particular aromatics, whose successive hydroxylations lead to the aromatic ring opening. These results suggest that TiO2/UV photocatalysis may be envisaged as a method for treatment of diluted waste waters in textile industries.
Keywords:titania;photocatalysis;photocatalytic degradation;dyes;methylene blue;water decolorization;water purification;total mineralization