Photooxidation of organic compounds in a solution containing hydrogen peroxide and TiO2 particles under visible light

Cyclohexane was oxidized under visible light in a titanium dioxide suspension containing hydrogen peroxide. Cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone were detected as products. Under similar experimental conditions, nonyl aldehyde was oxidized to nonylic acid. The reaction rate for the oxidation on rutile particles was faster than that on anatase particles. When hydrogen peroxide was added to suspensions of these particles, both rutile and anatase particles became yellow-colored due to the formation of peroxide complexes on their surfaces. The difference between the reaction rates for rutile and anatase particles suggests that the properties of the peroxide complexes formed on these particles are different. The properties of these complexes were studied by UV-vis spectroscopy.