Photocatalytic degradation pathway of methylene blue in water

The TiO2/UV photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) has been investigated in aqueous heterogeneous suspensions. In addition to a prompt removal of the color, TiO2/UV-based photocatalysis was simultaneously able to oxidize the dye, with an almost complete mineralization of carbon and of nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms into CO2, NH4+, NO3- and SO42-, respectively. A detailed degradation pathway has been determined by a careful identification of intermediate products, in particular aromatics, whose successive hydroxylations lead to the aromatic ring opening. These results suggest that TiO2/UV photocatalysis may be envisaged as a method for treatment of diluted waste waters in textile industries. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.