STUDY OF 2-NITROPHENOL PHOTOASSISTED DEGR ADATION IN AQUEOUS-MEDIUM CATALYZED BY AL-CU MIXED PILLARED CLAYS

The results reported concern an investigation of the photoassisted deg radation of nitrophenol in aqueous medium catalysed by copper adsorbed on aluminium pillared clay. Polarography, gas chromatography and UV-v is. were used to obtain informations on the nature of intermediate spe cies formed during reaction. The degradation of nitrophenol leads to C O2 (mineralisation), H-2, NO3- and NO2-, the rates for the obseved pro cesses were shown to be a fonction of amount and nature of the catalys t, pH, dissolved O-2 and light activation.