CHED 1102 |
| A series of calcium bismuth oxides was synthesized and assayed for photocatalytic activity against a Bi2O3 standard. All oxides were visibly colored, with band edges falling in the 400nm-500nm region. A family of potential substrates (1-adamantol, benzanilide, diethyl phthalate, diphenylamine, and 2,4,6-trimethylphenol,) were photodegraded in aqueous, 0.03 wt% suspensions of the photocatalysts. A Suntest XLS+ system (Xe lamp) was used to illuminate the suspensions. Substrate degradation was followed using liquid-liquid extraction followed by GC-MS techniques. Generically, photocatalytic oxidation increased with increasing Ca/Bi ratio, with Ca6Bi6O15 being the most effective photocatalyst at an equal wt% loading. The observed rates of photocatalytic degradation (fastest to slowest for Ca6Bi6O15) ranked: 2,4,6-trimethylphenol > diphenylamine > benzanilide > diethyl phthalate > 1-adamantol. The photostabilities of the catalysts are also reported, and the effects of common photocatalyst poisons (bicarbonate, sulfate, dissolved organic matter) discussed. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |