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Photocatalytic Degradation of Ethyl tert ‐Butyl Ether in Aqueous Solution Mediated by TiO 2 Suspensions: Parameter and Reaction Pathway Investigations
Author(s) -
Lu ChungShin,
Chiang TienYu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the chinese chemical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.329
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 2192-6549
pISSN - 0009-4536
DOI - 10.1002/jccs.200900162
Subject(s) - chemistry , radical , alkoxy group , ether , degradation (telecommunications) , catalysis , photochemistry , fragmentation (computing) , alkyl , aqueous solution , organic chemistry , telecommunications , computer science , operating system
Degradation of ethyl tert ‐butyl ether (ETBE) with UV/TiO 2 was studied by solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The complete removal of 0.1 g L −1 of ETBE was achieved after 20 h of treatment. Factors such as pH of the system, catalyst and substrate concentration, and the presence of anions influenced the degradation rate. Establishment of the degradation pathway was made possible by a thorough analysis of the reaction mixture, which identified the main intermediate products generated. The possible degradation pathways were proposed and discussed in this research. The attack on the C–H bond in ETBE by ·OH forms an alkyl radical, which consequently produces a peroxyl radical upon reaction with oxygen. Peroxyl radicals react with one another and produce an alkoxy radical. The β‐bond fragmentation of the alkoxy radical produces different intermediates.