M. Ohtaki et al., Intramolecularly selective decomposition of surfactant molecules on photocatalytic oxidative degradation over TiO2 photocatalyst, J MOL CAT A, 155(1-2), 2000, pp. 121-129
Investigation on oxidative mineralization of various surfactants over TiO2
photocatalyst reveals an anomalously retarded degradation of the trimethyla
mmonium moiety in cationic surfactants. Model reactions using tetraalkylamm
onium chlorides as substrates confirm that the stepwise behavior of the min
eralization time courses is ascribed to intramolecularly selective decompos
ition caused by a considerably slow degradation rate of the methyl groups d
irectly bound to the quaternary nitrogen. A strong inhibition effect of bro
mide or iodide anions preventing the complete mineralization is also reveal
ed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.