Adsorption as Initial Step in the Photocatalytic Degradation of Gaseous VOC by TiO sub(2)/UV

Goal and Scope. Since volatile organic compounds (VOC) contribute to formation of troposheric ozone, depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer and global warming, their emission into the atmosphere has to be limited. Besides the traditional physical-chemical techniques and the development of several biotechnological processes, advanced oxidation processes (AOP) have recently received growing attention due to their potential for degrading a wide range of VOC under mild conditions. In this context, TiO sub(2)-mediated photocatalytic oxidation has been generally considered as a promising technique for remediating air and water pollution. Since surface interactions are of primary importance in photocatalytic degradation reactions, adsorption of the pollutants onto the TiO sub(2) surface is an important prerequisite for efficient removal. The scope of this research was to investigate the adsorption of VOC from the gas phase to TiO sub(2) Degussa P25. Selected target compounds were trichloroethylene, toluene and chlorobenzene.