Photocatalytic degradation of chlorophenols to CO2 and HCl with polyoxotungstates in aqueous solution

Abstract

Homogeneous oxygenated aqueous solutions of chlorophenols, undergo photodegradation (λ > 320 nm) to CO₂ and Cl⁻ by polyoxometalates W₁₀O⁴⁻₃₂, PW₁₂O³⁻₄₀, and SiW₁₂O⁴⁻₄₀. Mineralization takes place, also, in the absence of dioxygen but the process is more than an order of magnitude slower. In presence of dioxygen the effectiveness of these catalysts compares with TiO₂ suspension.