Decontamination of Triclosan:A First Study on the Photocatalytic Degradation of the Widely Used Biocide Triclosan

摘要

The photocatalytic degradation of triclosan,a widely used biocide,has been investigated on various semiconductor photocatalysts like TiO_2,ZnO and WO3 in aqueous suspensions under different illumination conditions.Silver and palladium loaded TiO_2 photocatalysts have also been tried to examine the catalytic effect of metals on triclosan degradation.The degradation of triclosan(1.35 x 10-4 M)was monitored by TOC disappearance,carbon dioxide evolution and chloride ion formation.It is shown that TiO_2 exhibited the best photocatalytic efficiency compared to the other catalysts studied.Silver loaded TiO_2 performed better than PdO/ TiO_2.This study proves the viability of photocatalytic degradation of triclosan in an aqueous medium.