The microwave-assisted photo-catalytic degradation of organic dyes

In this study, TiO₂ photo-catalyst balls produced by the chemical vapour deposition method were used for degradation of organic dyes in which simultaneous irradiation of microwave and UV was evaluated. An electrodeless UV lamp that emits UV upon the irradiation of microwave was developed to irradiate microwave and UV simultaneously. The degradation reaction rate was shown to be higher with higher microwave intensity, under stronger acidic or basic conditions, and with a larger amount of O₂ gas or H₂O₂ addition. The effect of addition of H₂O₂ was not significant when photo-catalysis was used without additional microwave irradiation or when microwave was irradiated without the use of photo-catalysts. When H₂O₂ was added under simultaneous use of photo-catalysis and microwave irradiation, however, considerably higher degradation reaction rates were observed.