Hydrothermal preparation of TiO2 and photocatalytic degradation of hexachlorocyclohexane and dichlorodiphenyltrichloromethane

Photocatalytic TiO2 was prepared as monodispersed fine particles under mild hydrothermal conditions (T = 150 degreesC, P = similar to 40 bars). Active elements like W, were introduced into the structure of TiO2 up to 10 wt% in order to obtain enhanced photocatalytic activity in the title compound. The influence of various growth parameters such as pH of the media, crystallization temperature, type of solvent, % fills (pressure) and the type of starting material were studied with reference to the quality of the resultant product and its photocatalytic activity. The disintegration of hexachlrocyclohexane (HCCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroehtane (DDT) was studied using TiO2, and we have proposed the photocatalytic reaction mechanism for the first time. Natural sunlight was used as the main light source in the photocatalytic reaction.