Photocatalytic degradation of aqueous 4-chlorophenol by silica-immobilized polyoxometalates

The degradation of 4-chlorophenol with near-UV light by silica-immobilized polyoxometalate (POM-in-SiO2) catalysts has been studied. The silica-immobilized Na6W7O24 (SW7), H4W10O32(SW10), H3PW12O40(SPW12), and H6P2W18O62 (SP2WI8) were prepared by means of the sol-gel hydrothermal technique through the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in aqueous solution of the corresponding polyoxometalate, respectively. The degradation of 4-chlorophenol was monitored by measuring Cl- and CO2 concentrations and analyzing reaction intermediates by GC/MS analysis. During irradiation, 4-chlorophanol first dechlorinated to form hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone, and then these intermediates further mineralized to form CO2 and H2O. The degree to which 4-chlorophenol was mineralized by photocatalytic oxidation was investigated. Results indicate less than 15% for SW7 but nearly complete mineralization for SW10 after 60 min of photoirradiation. The present studies suggest that POM-In-SiO2 catalysts may be a novel type of photocatalyts for the purification of the environmentally chlorophenol-contaminated water.