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Photocatalytic oxidation of humic substances with TiO2-coated glass micro-spheres

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Abstract

The photocatalytic oxidation of humic substances in aqueous solutions and natural waters with TiO2 attached to buoyant, hollow glass micro-spheres was studied. A maximum oxidation efficiency of 3.6 mg W−1 h−1 was achieved in neutral or alkaline media at a plane surface concentration of the catalyst attached to the micro-spheres of 25 g m−2. Proceeding by different mechanisms in acidic and alkaline media, the photocatalytic oxidation efficiency did not benefit from an excessive presence of hydroxyl radical promoters, hydrogen peroxide and alkali.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the Estonian Science Foundation (grant 4866), the Centre for International Mobility, Ekokem Yhtiöt, and the Academy of Finland (project 208134) for financial support of the present research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Tallinn Technical University, 5 Ehitajate tee, 19086, Tallinn, Estonia

    Elina Portjanskaja & Marina Krichevskaya

  2. Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, 53851, Lappeenranta, Finland

    Sergei Preis & Juha Kallas

Authors
  1. Elina Portjanskaja
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  2. Marina Krichevskaya
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  3. Sergei Preis
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  4. Juha Kallas
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Correspondence to Elina Portjanskaja.

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Portjanskaja, E., Krichevskaya, M., Preis, S. et al. Photocatalytic oxidation of humic substances with TiO2-coated glass micro-spheres. Environ Chem Lett 2, 123–127 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-004-0078-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-004-0078-3

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