Photodegradation and Mineralization of Acetic Acid by Titanium Dioxide Films

ITO (indium-tin oxide) conductive glass plates were used as a support of Titanium dioxide films. TiO2/ITO films were prepared by sol-gel and dip-coating method with cheap inorganic salt TiCl4 as a precursor. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic decomposition of acetic acid in aqueous solution. Results showed that the photocatalytic activity of TiO2/ITO films was 20% higher than that of TiO2 nanopowders for the degradation of acetic acid. The removal rate of acetic acid (25 mg/L) was about 80% after 6h irradiation, while TiO2/ITO film calcined at 500 degrees C for 1h with 4-coating times was used as photocatalyst. Furthermore, 74% of the total organic carbon was eliminated after 6h irradiation. It was founded that when the initial concentration of acetic acid was smaller than 40mg/L, the photodegradation of acetic acid accorded with first-order kinetic pattern.