Oxygen Effect on Photocatalytic Reaction of Ethanol over Some Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysts

Abstract

The suspensions of four kinds of TiO2 photocatalysts in ethanol have been studied under ultraviolet light in an atmosphere of Ar, air, or O2 at 25°C. The main products were acetaldehyde, acetaldehyde diethyl acetal (acetal), acetic acid, water, ethylene, methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. Acetaldehyde and acetal were abundantly produced in all of the products. The formation of all of the products under O2 was more efficient than those under Ar and air. The photochemical activity of each TiO2 is stronger than that of either Ti2O3 or TiO.