Degradation of Tannic Acid Using TiO 2 Nanotubes as Electrocatalyst

Abstract

Structured TiO 2 nanotubes were grown on 2 mm thick titanium sheet by anodization of titanium in ethylene glycol medium containing 0.025 M NaF. The morphology of TiO 2 nanotubes (TNT) was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope. The potential of TNT as anode and also as photocatalyst for the degradation of tannic acid was studied. The mineralization of tannic acid was measured in terms Total Organic Carbon (TOC). Only 50% of TOC could be removed by exposing the tannic acid solution to UV-radiation (photolysis), whereas it was improved to 70% by electrooxidation (EO) using TNT as anode. Maximum degradation of 83% was achieved when electrooxidation was conducted under the influence of UV-radiation (photoelectrocatalytic process (PEC)). Among the electrolytes tried, Na 2 SO 4 was observed to be very effective for the degradation of tannic acid. The kinetics of tannic acid degradation by photoelectrocatalytic process was found to follow zero-order rate expression.