The photocatalytic mineralisation of perchloroethylene (PCE) is demons
trated mainly in terms of CO2 formation to investigate the effects of
various factors such as dissolved oxygen (DO), titanium dioxide semico
nductor (TiO2) catalyst dosage, PCE concentration and pH on PCE photoc
atalysis. PCE was rapidly adsorbed onto the TiO2 particles followed by
its gradual degradation, and CO2 production started after a short lag
time that corresponded to the adsorption phase. The rate of CO2 forma
tion increased with increasing DO, TiO2 dosage and PCE concentration.
There was no significant effect of initial pH on the CO2 production ra
te over a wide pH range. The dependence of the CO2 formation on PCE co
ncentration was found to obey the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. No inter
mediates were detected during PCE degradation and PCE degradation foll
owed a first-order reaction.