Photocatalysis has been explored as a potential method of cleaning wastewater but most studies of photocatalytic efficacy rely on the disappearance of colour of dyes. Ideally, the breakdown would result in non-toxic materials, but there is little study done, and the intermediates of this photocatalytic process are not well understood, and could potentially result in the accumulation of more dangerous intermediate. In order to track these intermediates, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) has been used as a probe for identification of possible intermediates and their persistence using TiO2 & BiOCl as photocatalysts. Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) experiments were used in conjunction with NMR to explore the mechanism and identification of previously unknown intermediates in the degradation of naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

New method of comparing photocatalysts by identifying reaction intermediates

256th National Meeting (2018)

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