Huge manufacture of tris (1,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate (TDCPP), one of phosphorus flame retardants, resulted in its wide existence around the world. Recently, TDCPP was proved to be harmful to animals and human. TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were one of efficient catalysts to degrade pollutants under UV light but aggregated in water due to common electrolytes in the environment. This study aimed to understand the photodegradation of TDCPP by TiO2 NPs and the effects of electrolytes. TiO2 NPs successfully degraded TDCPP in 60 min irradiated with UV light. Furthermore, TDCPP was almost mineralized during the process of photodegradation by TiO2 NPs, and chloride ions released were also detected. The photodegradation rate constants of TDCPP with TiO2 NPs decreased with increasing the initial TDCPP concentrations, but increased with the increase of TiO2 NP dosage. Photodegradation of TDCPP by TiO2 NPs favored an acidic condition. The photodegradation efficiency of TDCPP by TiO2 NPs did not be affected apparently at different temperatures. When electrolytes existed in the solution, TiO2 NPs would aggregate and sediment. The TiO2 size became larger from around 200 nm to around 3000 nm when 50-500 mM NaCl or NaBr in the solution. The photodagradation efficiency of TDCPP by TiO2 NPs with 10-500 mM NaCl or NaBr decreased, indicating that electrolytes in the solution decreased the photocatalytic efficiency owing to chloride ions as OH scavengers and the decrease of surface area and active sites on the surface. Photodegradation with TiO2 NPs under UV light illumination had the potential to be applied for treatments of TDCPP in aquatic environment. These better understandings could facilitate the treatment of TDCPP by TiO2 NPs in the environment with common electrolytes.

Photodegradation of tris (1,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate with TiO2 nanoparticles under UV irradiation and the effect of electrolytes

256th National Meeting (2018)

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