TiO2 Nanoparticles-Photocatalytic Oxidation of Selected Cycloalkanols

Abstract EN

Photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexanol (1), cyclopentanol (2), and cycloheptanol (3) was investigated by using titanium dioxide (Degussa P25) as a semiconductor photocatalyst .The effect of different operational parameters such as the catalyst, the solvent, time, and oxidant was also studied.

Results showed a high percentage of conversion for 1–3 (71.6%, 94.2%, and 100%, resp.) and that the primary photocatalytic oxidation products are the corresponding cycloalkanones (4–6).

They were formed with high selectivity (>85%).

Several other products were also identified using GC, GC/MS techniques and authentic samples.

The photocatalytic activity is explained by a photoinduced electron transfer mechanism through the formation of electron-hole pair at the surface of the semiconductor particles.

A first-order kinetic model was observed for the photocatalytic oxidation of the investigated cycloalkanols.