Efficient photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A over urushiol modified titanium dioxide under visible light irradiation

A novel urushiol grafted Degussa P25 (urushiol/P25) hybrid nano-material was synthesized, and its structure was characterized. The urushiol/P25 hybrid nanomaterial showed high photoactivity under visible light irradiation (lambda >= 420 nm). Bisphenol A (BPA) can easily approach to P25 surface through the hydrophobic channel between alkyl groups in urushiol. The reaction rate constant of BPA degradation increased by 4.9 times by using 0.5% urushiol/P25 as catalyst than by using bare P25. Radical quenching experiments proved that the superoxide radical anion (O-2(center dot-)) mediated oxidation pathways were dominant for BPA degradation.