PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF SULFONATED AROMATICS IN AQUEOUS TIO2 SUSPENSION

Sodium benzenesulfonate and its substituted compounds were degraded ph otocatalytically. Several factors influencing the degradation rate, su ch as the initial concentration, temperature and substituent group, we re examined. The activation energy (15.65 kj mol(-1)) is comparable wi th the values reported for other aromatic compounds. The degradation r ate decreases with Hammett's constant, which indicates the electrophil ic nature of the degradation reaction. One major and two minor interme diate products were identified. The reaction mechanism was proposed on the basis of the formation of these intermediate products.