PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF CHLOROPHENOLS TO CO2 AND HCL WITH POLYOXOTUNGSTATES IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Homogeneous oxygenated aqueous solutions of chlorophenols, undergo photodegradation (lambda > 320 nm) to CO2 and Cl- by polyoxometalates W10O324-, PW12O403-, and SiW12O404-. Mineralization takes place, also, in the absence of dioxygen but the process is more than an order of magnitude slower. In presence of dioxygen the effectiveness of these catalysts compares with TiO2 suspension.