Degradation of Gesaprim Herbicide by Heterogeneous Photocatalysis Using Fe-Doped TiO2

Noemí A. Quiroz, Dulce J. R. Gutierrez, Susana S. Martínez, Cristina L. Bahena

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DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2011.24068                

Abstract

Fe-doped TiO2 was prepared by the sol gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction. All the Fe-doped TiO2 were composed of an anatase crystal form. The activity of the Fe-doped TiO2 for the degradation of the gesaprim commercial herbicide (which contains atrazine as active compound and formulating agents) was studied by varying the iron content during UV (15 W), visible light and solar irradiations. The visible light came from commercial saving energy lamps (13, 15 and 20 Watts). The gesaprim degradation rate depended on the iron content in the photo catalyst. The Fe-doped TiO2 (0.5% by weight of TiO2) showed higher TOC removal under visible light and was more active than the undoped TiO2 photo catalyst under the light irradiation sources tested. Over 90% of chemical oxygen demand abatement was achieved with both UV and visible light but less time was required to decrease the chemical oxygen demand content by using the catalyst doped with iron at 0.5% under visible light. It was observed that the degradation of gesaprim increased by increasing the iron content in the catalyst under visible light.

Keywords

Atrazine, Iron Doped TiO2, Solar Irradiation, Visible Light Irradiation

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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