[Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A in water by Fe doped-TiO2 nanotube arrays under simulated solar light irradiation].

ABSTRACT

Seeking an efficient treatment method for bisphenol A ( BPA), a representative endocrine disrupting compound, is important for environmental remediation and human health. Herein, the degradation of BPA by means of photoelectrocatalysis was investigated. Fe doped-TiO2 nanotube arrays ( Fe/TNA ) served as the photoanode, and a xenon lamp simulated the solar light source. First, undoped TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNA) and a series of Fe/TNA were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of Fe/TNA showed a red-shift and an enhancement of the absorption in the visible-light region compared to TNA. Then, experimental conditions including Fe doping content, current intensity and aeration rate were varied to demonstrate their effects on the elimination of BPA. It was observed that the degradation of BPA could be fitted to the quasi-first-order equation. Under the following conditions Fe/TNA prepared by 0.9 mol x L(-1) Fe(NO3)3 solution dip-coating as photoanode, titanium foil as cathode, current intensity of 1.15 mA x cm(-2) and initial BPA concentration of 10 mg x L(-1), 72.3% BPA was decomposed during 4 h reaction, with a rate constant of 5.32 x 10(-3) min(-1). Aeration enhanced the removal rate of BPA to 82.7% and 94.1% with an aerating rate of 1.0 L x min(-1) using titanium foil as cathode and an aerating rate of 0.2 L x min(-1) using carbon cloth as cathode, respectively, and the corresponding rate constants were 7.20 x 10(-3) min(-1) and 11.6 x 10(-3) min(-1), respectively.