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In situ photoelectrochemical/photocatalytic study of a dye discoloration in a microreactor system using TiO2 thin films

  • Photocatalysis : fundamentals and applications in JEP 2011, Bordeaux
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Abstract

Introduction

In this work, we report in situ studies of UV photoelectrocatalytic discoloration of a dye (indigo carmine) by a TiO2 thin film in a microreactor to demonstrate the driving force of the applied electrode potential and the dye flow rate toward dye discoloration kinetics.

Methods

TiO2 65-nm-thick thin films were deposited by PVD magnetron sputtering technique on a conducting glass substrate of fluorinated tin oxide. A microreactor to measure the discoloration rate, the electrode potential, and the photocurrent in situ, was developed. The dye solutions, before and after measurements in the microreactor, were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy.

Results

The annealed TiO2 thin films had anatase structure with preferential orientation (101). The discoloration rate of the dye increased with the applied potential to TiO2 electrode. Further, acceleration of the photocatalytic reaction was achieved by utilizing dye flow recirculation to the microreactor. In both cases the photoelectrochemical/photocatalytic discoloration kinetics of the dye follows the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, with first-order kinetics.

Conclusions

The feasibility of dye discoloration on TiO2 thin film electrodes, prepared by magnetron sputtering using a flow microreactor system, has been clearly demonstrated. The discoloration rate is enhanced by applying a positive potential (E AP) and/or increasing the flow rate. The fastest discoloration and shortest irradiation time (50 min) produced 80% discoloration with an external anodic potential of 0.931 V and a flow rate of 12.2 mL min−1.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the partially financial support of this work by a regional Poitou-Charentes project “Aqua Tisol”. C. Montero-Ocampo and A. Gago wish to thank CONACYT (National Council of Science and Technology in Mexico) for the 26389 project financial support and 305477 scholarship, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Electrocatalyse, UMR-CNRS 7285, Université de Poitiers, 4 rue Michel Brunet, B27-BP633, 86022, Poitiers, France

    C. Montero-Ocampo, A. Gago & N. Alonso-Vante

  2. Institut P’, Département Physique et Mécanique des Matériaux, CNRS, Université de Poitiers, SP2MI, Téléport 2, Bd Marie et Pierre Curie, Futuroscope, BP 30179, F86962, Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, France

    G. Abadias

  3. Laboratoire de Chimie et Microbiologie de l’Eau, UMR-CNRS 6008, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, F86022, France

    B. Gombert

  4. CINVESTAV-IPN U, Saltillo, Carr. Saltillo-Monterrey Km 13, 25900, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

    C. Montero-Ocampo

Authors
  1. C. Montero-Ocampo
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  2. A. Gago
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  3. G. Abadias
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  4. B. Gombert
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  5. N. Alonso-Vante
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Alonso-Vante.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

JEP Meeting, Bordeaux, France

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Montero-Ocampo, C., Gago, A., Abadias, G. et al. In situ photoelectrochemical/photocatalytic study of a dye discoloration in a microreactor system using TiO2 thin films. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 3751–3762 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0771-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0771-x

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