Nanocrystalline TiO2 doped by small amount of pre-synthesized colloidal CdS nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene

The chemical stability and hydrophobic nature of chloroarenes make them a persistent environmental hazard. Modeling of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) degradation in alcohol-water solution under UV irradiation was carried out with the aim of probing how the 1,2,4-TCB might behave in the environment. The photocatalytic activity of both bare TiO2 and TiO2 doped by colloidal CdS nanoparticles synthesized by the sol-gel method has been investigated in the processes of 1,2,4-TCB photodegradation in the aqueous protic solvent. Non-sensitized TiO2 cannot be regarded as catalyst for the 1,2,4-TCB photodecomposition. On the contrary, the CdS/TiO2 composite accelerated the 1,2,4-TCB photodegradation process. The concentration of CdS/TiO2 was shown to effect on the 1,2,4-TCB photolysis mechanisms, which resulted in the quantitative ratios of the 1,2,4-TCB photolysis products.