Degradation of trichloroethylene using highly adsorptive allophane-TiO(2) nanocomposite

A highly adsorptive allophane-TiO(2) nanocomposite photocatalyst was prepared by dispersing nanopartides of the natural clay mineral allophane into a titanium alkoxide solution by the sol-gel method. During the photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene using the allophane-TiO(2) nanocomposite, emission of the intermediate product, phosgene, was drastically inhibited. Trichloroethylene was transformed into the intermediate products, phosgene and dichloroacetyl chloride, on the TiO(2) during the UV irradiation. These compounds are rapidly adsorbed on the allophane. The compounds then gradually degraded after diffusing to the TiO(2).ArticleAPPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL. 102(3-4):470-474 (2011)journal articl