Photocatalytic decomposition of steroid hormone as environmental contaminant

摘要

This paper deals with possibility of photocatalytic decomposition of steroid hormones as biologicallyactive environmental contaminants. Hormone hydrocortisone as representative of steroid hormoneswas photocatalytically decomposed by titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films. The TiO2 films weredeposited on glass substrates by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in a vacuum reactorwith radio frequency low temperature oxygen plasma discharge using titanium isopropoxide as aprecursor. The depositions were performed with substrates preheated from 20 ℃ to 300 ℃ and witha systematical change of deposition conditions. TiO2 thin films with well developed crystallineanatase structure demonstrated a very good ability to decompose studied hormonal substance.