Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid over ZrO2, Cu/ZrO2 and Fe/ZrO2 photocatalysts synthesized by sol gel method.

ABSTRACT

Photocatalytic oxidation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was performed over ZrO2, Cu/ZrO2 and Fe/ZrO2 catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method. The samples were annealed at 400 degrees C. Textural and electronic characterization was carried out using BET and UV-Vis in order to establish the relationship between surface, pore volume and E(g) with the photoactivity of the materials. The degradation of the acid was followed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The disappearance of the herbicide in solution follows approximately pseudo-first order kinetics. The apparent rate constants were calculated for the three catalysts. The results reveal that Fe/ZrO2 exhibits the best photoactivity for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.