TiO2 sensitized photomineralization kinetics of phthalic anhydride

The photomineralization of phthalic anhydride (PA) in aqueous solutions over TiO2 particles has been investigated under UV-illumination, and then kinetics of CO2 generation have been followed. Effects of the aqueous suspension pH, PA concentration, temperature, irradiation time, and light intensity are examined. A correction term, α(T), the decrease in the solubility of CO2 with increasing temperature, is taken into account. The activation energy is found to be 3.19 kJ/mol. A quantum yield of 0.22 for CO2 formation is also calculated.