Enhancement of salicylate photodegradation under bias in binary mixtures

The influence of oxalate and methanol on the photodegradation behaviour of salicylate under bias was studied measuring the time evolution of the photocurrent and the concentration in solution. In N-2 saturated electrolytes, the presence of the second component produces an enhancement of salicylate degradation, but the degradation of the added photolyte decreases. In the presence Of O-2 or other electron acceptors salicylate photodegradation is faster, and the positive effect of a sacrificial photolyte is minimised. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.