Studies on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red X-3B in Water by Nanometer Titanium Dioxide

The photocatalytic degradation behavior of aqueous reactive brilliant red X-3B by nanometer TiO2 was studied. The operating parameters, i.e. pH of the solution, photocatalyst content, and initial dye concentration on the photocatalytic process were examined. The experimental results showed that the degradation rate of X-3B was more quickly in strong acid and basic media, and the reaction rate was increased with increasing UV light intensity and decreased with increasing the initial X-3B concentration. The optimum dosage of catalyst TiO2 was about 1.5g/L. The dosage of oxidant H2O2 had also an optimum concentration with the value about 20mmol/L, the degradation rate of X-3B would decrease when H2O2 concentration over 20mmol/L. Kinetics analysis indicated that the degradation of X-3B could be approximated as first-order kinetics.