Phenol photocatalytic degradation over anisotropic TiO2 nanomaterials: Kinetic study, adsorption isotherms and formal mechanisms

Anisotropic TiO2 nanomaterials (nanotubes, nanorods, nanoplates, nanospheres, and nanoparticles) with controlled structural and textural properties have been evaluated in the photocatalytic degradation of phenol under UV conditions. The kinetic study of phenol adsorption fits well to a quasi-second-order model whereas the adsorption isotherms of phenol over the different TiO2 nanomaterials follow the Langmuir model and the degradation kinetics the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model. TiO2 nanomaterials exposing (001) or (101) anatase facets are less active than TiO2 P25 for the phenol degradation. This is related to their tendency to degrade faster intermediates products (organic acids) rather than phenol itself. A good compromise between anatase crystallinity, crystallites sizes, and specific surface area can however improve the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 nanomaterials. Results also showed that the degradation mechanism follows pseudo-first order kinetics. Pseudo-rate constants were therefore determined and formal mechanism schemes proposed.