Adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of acetonitrile: FT-IR investigation

Abstract The photocatalytic degradation of acetonitrile was carried out in liquid–solid regime in a batch reactor by using two types of commercial TiO 2 powders (Merck and Degussa P25) as photocatalysts. The concentration of acetonitrile and non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC) were monitored. The initial rate of acetonitrile conversion was found higher on TiO 2 Merck than on TiO 2 P25. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to investigate the molecular features of the adsorption and photo-oxidation of acetonitrile on the two TiO 2 powders in a fully surface hydrated form. Acetonitrile was found adsorbed on Ti 4+ surface ions and hydroxyl groups for both types of TiO 2 . This interaction appeared fully…