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Solar Photocatalytic Destruction of p-Nitrophenol: A Pedagogical Use of Lab Wastes

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J. A. Herrera-Melián , J. M. Doña-Rodríguez , E. Tello Rendón , A. Soler Vila , M. Brunet Quetglas , A. Alvera Azcárate and L. Pascual Pariente

Departamento de Química, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Edificio de Ciencias Basicas - Campus de Tafira, 35017 Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias, Spain

J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78 (6), p 775

DOI: 10.1021/ed078p775

Publication Date (Web): June 1, 2001

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

In this article we propose the destruction of p-nitrophenol wastes obtained in a previous lab experiment, to generate a new lab experiment. The recommended destruction technique is solar TiO₂-photocatalysis. When the effects of TiO₂ and sunlight are tested separately, a slight decrease of p-nitrophenol is observed; but when TiO₂ and sunlight are employed together p-nitrophenol disappears in 1 or 2 h. These experiments do not require sophisticated equipment or special lab training for the students. Groups of students tested different experimental conditions, such as the effect of different light intensities and sources (800-W UV-lamp, sunlight on sunny days, and sunlight on a cloudy day) or the addition of H₂O₂. p-Nitrophenol is degraded under the three light sources but at different rates. The addition of H₂O₂ to the TiO₂-plus-sunlight system enhances p-nitrophenol degradation kinetics when compared with the TiO₂ plus sunlight and H₂O₂ plus sunlight combinations.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Environmental Chemistry

Keywords (Feature):

Safety Tips

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Catalysis

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