Water detoxification:: Photocatalytic decomposition of phenol on Au/TiO2

Photodeposition of gold on TiO2 was conducted in situ in the photoreactor used for the reaction of phenol photodestruction. The Au/TiO2 system shows better photocatalytic properties in the destruction of phenol contaminants in water than pure TiO2. The gold cocatalyst prevents also the decrease of the rate of the photocatalytic reaction at higher phenol concentration observed for pure TiO2. Hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, and catechol are main intermediates of the photoreaction, which finally leads to total phenol mineralization.