Degradation of 4-toluene sulfonic acid by photocatalysis of nano-TiO_2

Photocatalytic degradation of 4-Toluene sulfonic acid in aqueous solution by TiO2 under UV irradiation was studied. The effects of quantity of TiO2, concentration of 4-Toluene sulfonic acid,time and intensity of UV radiation, pH value of solution, and common inorganic ions was investigated. The results show that the optimal quantity of TiO2 was 0.10 g·L-1 in 0.030 g·L-1 4-Toluene sulfonic acid solution under an air pressure of 5.2 kPa. Under those conditions, the degradation efficiency of 4-Toluene sulfonic acid was 67.4 % after 2 h UV irradiation at pH 7. The quantity of TiO2 and solution pH were the main factors affecting the degradation of 4-Toluene sulfonic acid by nano-TiO2. The influences of some common inorganic ions were also studied, and the result was satisfying.