Ultrasound (US), Ultraviolet light (UV) and combination (US + UV) assisted semiconductor catalysed degradation of organic pollutants in water: Oscillation in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide formed in situ

摘要

Application of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) such as sono, photo and sonophoto catalysis in the purification of polluted water under ambient conditions involve the formation and participation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) like ?OH, HO_2~?, O_2~(-?), H_2O_2 etc. Among these, H_2O_2 is the most stable and is also a precursor for the reactive free radicals. Current investigations on the ZnO mediated sono, photo and sonophoto catalytic degradation of phenol pollutant in water reveal that H_2O_2 formed in situ cannot be quantitatively correlated with the degradation of the pollutant. The concentration of H_2O_2 formed does not increase corresponding to phenol degradation and reaches a plateau or varies in a wave-like fashion (oscillation) with well defined crests and troughs, indicating concurrent formation and decomposition. The concentration at which decomposition overtakes formation or formation overtakes decomposition is sensitive to the reaction conditions. Direct photolysis of H_2O_2 in the absence of catalyst or the presence of pre-equilibrated (with the adsorption of H_2O_2) catalyst in the absence of light does not lead to the oscillation. The phenomenon is more pronounced in sonocatalysis, the intensity of oscillation being in the order sonocatalysis > photocatalysis≥sonophotocatalysis while the degradation of phenol follows the order sonophotocatalysis > photocatalysis > sonocatalysis > sonolysis > photolysis. In the case of sonocatalysis, the oscillation continues for some more time after discontinuing the US irradiation indicating that the reactive free radicals as well as the trapped electrons and holes which interact with H_2O_2 have longer life time (memory effect).