Selective Oxidation Processes of Organic Substances by Means of Photocatalytic Systems

摘要

Selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in aqueous solution, at acidicrnconditions, through TiO_2/Cu(II)/solar UV system was investigated. Differentrncommercial TiO_2 samples were tested. The best result found in terms of yield was of 35rn% of benzaldehyde with respect to the initial benzyl alcohol. During each run a partialrnconversion of benzaldehyde to benzoic acid was also observed. The study suggestedrnthat different operative parameters, such as the composition of photocatalyst, amount ofrncatalyst, pH, ionic components in water and the initial concentration of Cu(II) played anrnimportant role in the photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. at the end of thernprocess, Cu(II) could be regenerated and reused, through a re-oxidation of Cu(0),rnproduced during the photolytic run, with air at dark.