Photocatalytic degradation of cetylpyridinium chloride over titanium dioxide powder

The photocatalytic degradation of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) over titanium dioxide photocatalyst was investigated. The effects of various parameters, such as the pH, concentration of surfactant, amount of semiconductor, particle size, light intensity, etc., were observed and are discussed. The photocatalytic degradation of CPC follows pseudo-first-order kinetics and the rate constant was determined using the expression Rate constant k = 2.303 X slope The final products of degradation were characterized and a tentative mechanism was proposed for the photocatalytic degradation of cetylpyridinium chloride. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.