Photocatalytic Oxidation of Organic Compounds with Nanocatalysts

Abstract

The thesis provides a comprehensive study of water purification properties of TiO2-based nanomaterials. It comprises nine chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the thesis and outlines the goals of the study. Chapter 2 presents the main instruments used for the characterization of synthesized photocatalysts and those used for product analyses. Chapter 3 discusses the photodegradation of organic pollutants using methylene blue as an organic standard. First, the degradation was attempted with commercial TiO2 (P25). The synthesized catalyst was further improved by doping with silver phosphate (Ag3PO4). The degradation was achieved in a single phase using photocatalysts as the only catalyst. Chapter 4 presents a very interesting comparison between different biphasic oxidation systems to achieve desired products. A new extensive environmentally friendly technique is discussed in detail. Benzyl alcohol was oxidized to benzaldehyde (intermediate compound), preventing further oxidation to benzoic acid. The oxidation was studied in tow systems: electrochemical oxidation and photocatalytic electrochemical oxidation. Chapter 5 investigates photo-oxidation properties of TiO2 under biphasic reaction conditions. A kinetic study was attempted on the photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to obtain the desired compound (benzaldehyde). Chapter 6 focuses on the developmental design of the photocatalytic N-alkylation of aniline. Benzylaniline was synthesized using the two-phase photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Chapter 7 provides the experimental details for the synthesis of photocatalyst nanostructures used in the photocatalytic oxidation of alcohol. First, the oxidation was attempted using homemade TiO2 and then were further improved by doping with a variety of transition metals. Cu-, Ag-, V- and Fe-doped TiO2 NPs were synthesized. Chapter 8 describes a kinetic study performed on the photoepoxidation of styrene. The photocatalytic epoxidation of styrene with TiO2 photocatalyst, containing NaCl as a chlorine radical source, was examined. General conclusions of the findings and future perspectives are presented in Chapter 9.