Gas phase photocatalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene on mesoporous TiO₂ whiskers

Anatase TiO₂ whiskers were synthesized by the reaction of TiO₂·H₂O and K₂CO₃. The analytical results showed that the product was anatase with the sizes within microns, high ratio of area to mass and good uniformity in apertures. The photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO₂ for the oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in gas phase was studied under irradiation of UV lamp at 365 nm wavelength. Its degradation rate was up to 95% catalyzed by mesoporous TiO₂, which was higher than that of Degussa P-25 TiO₂ (87%). The degradation rate of TCE was accelerated with increasing the initial concentration, which reached the highest rate when the air velocity was 1.64 cm/s, and O₂ boosted the photocatalytic reaction rate. Finally, Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was used to describe the photocatalytic reaction.