TiO sub(2) photocatalyzed degradation of diazinon in an aqueous medium

• Published in: Environmental chemistry letters Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 57 - 61
• Main Authors: Sakkas, V A, Dimou, A, Pitarakis, K, Mantis, G, Albanis, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2005
• ISSN: 1610-3653; 1610-3661
• DOI: 10.1007/s10311-004-0091-6

The photocatalytic degradation of diazinon was studied over TiO sub(2 )catalysts. The kinetics obtained demonstrated that powder titania (t sub(1/2 )= 9.7min) was more efficient compared to pure titania thin film catalysts (t sub(1/2 )= 29.4min). Mineralization of organic carbon to CO sub(2) after 360min of irradiation was found to be 75% while heteroatoms (P, S, N) were mineralized into phosphate, sulfate and nitrate ions, respectively. A microtox test was performed to evaluate the toxicity of solutions treated by catalysts. Illumination of diazinon in the presence of TiO sub(2) gave rise to several intermediates that have been identified by means of solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, while a simple degradation pathway is proposed.