PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF CHLOROPHENOLS TO CO2 AND HCL WITH POLYOXOTUNGSTATES IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Homogeneous oxygenated aqueous solutions of chlorophenols, undergo pho todegradation (lambda > 320 nm) to CO2 and Cl- by polyoxometalates W10 O324-, PW12O403-, and SiW12O404-. Mineralization takes place, also, in the absence of dioxygen but the process is more than an order of magn itude slower. In presence of dioxygen the effectiveness of these catal ysts compares with TiO2 suspension.