Photocatalytic Degradation of Isoproturon Pesticide on C, N and S Doped TiO2

Abstract

TiO2 doped with C, N and S (TCNS photocatalyst) was prepared by hydrolysis process using titanium iso-propoxide and thiourea. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), BET surface area, FTIR and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The results showed that the prepared catalysts are anatase type and nanosized par-ticles. The catalysts exhibited stronger absorption in the visible light region with a red shift in the adsorption edge. The photocatalytic activity of TCNS photocatalysts was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of isoproturon pesticide in aqueous solution. In the present study the maximum activity was achieved for TCNS5 catalyst at neutral pH with 1 g L-1 catalyst amount and at 1.14 x 10-4 M concentration of the pesticide solution. The TCNS photocatalysts showed higher phtocatalytic activity under solar light irradiation. This is attributed to the synergetic effects of red shift in the absorption edge, higher surface area and the inhibition of charge carrier recombination process.