Degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) by novel photocatalytic material of tourmaline-coated TiO2 nanoparticles: Kinetic study and model

Abstract

The novel complex photocatalytic material was prepared by coating TiO2 nanoparticles on tourmaline using the sol-gel method, and used in the degradation of the herbicide 2,4-D. The results indicated that coating TiO2 with tourmaline enhanced the photocatalytic activity significantly. Based on the research of a simplified model for the average light intensity in the photoreactor, the influence of the concentration of photocatalyst, and the initial concentration of 2,4-D, a model for the degradation of 2,4-D by the tourmaline-coated TiO2 nanoparticles was established. Further tests showed that results calculated from this model were close to those obtained in the actual experiments. © 2013 by the authors.