The photo-degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) under illumination of solar light and uv in the presence of different amounts of photocatalysts (Ag-TiO2 and TiO2 thin films) and different Ag loadings was explored. In this study, silver doped TiO2 (Ag-TiO2) and undoped TiO2 nanocrystalline films on glass substrates were prepared by a sol�gel method based on the self-assembly technique with nonionic surfactant to control the nanostructure. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were employed to characterize particle size, chemical composition, surface morphology, and the valence state of the Ag-TiO2 film. The photocatalytic activity of Ag-TiO2 thin films with different Ag loading and catalyst amounts for the degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) under solar and uv light was evaluated. The degradation of 2,4-DNT followed first-order kinetics. There was negligible leaching of silver from the Ag-TiO2 thin film though the leaching increased as the total Ag-TiO2 photocatalyst increased.  The degradation intermediate products of 2,4-DNT were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography�mass spectrometry. Results on the role of silver loading on the morphology of the silver islands, degradation kinetics, and reaction intermediates will be discussed.  Reaction pathways will also be presented.

Comparison of photo-degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoulene by silver doped and undoped titanium dioxide thin film in the presence of solar and uv light

245th National Meeting (2013)

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