PHOTODEGRADATION OF SOME BENZENE POLYCARB OXYLIC ACIDS IN THE PRESENCE OF UV IRRADIATED TITANIUM-DIOXIDE

The photocatalyzed degradation of hemimellitic, trimellitic and pyrome llitic acids was investigated at room temperature, in aqueous suspensi ons of titanium dioxide irradiated with wavelengths lambda greater tha n or equal to 290 nm. The effect of such parameters as catalyst concen tration, pH and initial concentration of acid on the disappearance ini tial rate was examined. The results indicate photomineralization kinet ics of these acids were determined in terms of carbon dioxide. They sh owed a dependence on the initial concentration of acid.