Phenol degradation on Pr6O11 surface under UV-A light. Synergistic photocatalysis by semiconductors

Phenol degrades on the surface of Pr6O11, an insulator, under UV-A light and the degradation rate increases linearly with phenol concentration and photon flux but decreases linearly with pH. The degradation efficiency is higher with UV-C light than with UV-A light. While TiO2. Fe2O3, CuO, ZnO, ZnS, Nb2O5 and CdO particles individually photocatalyze the degradation each semiconductor exhibits synergistic effect, an enhanced photodegradation, when present along with Pr6O11 suggesting holetransfer from illuminated semiconductors to phenol adsorbed on Pr6O11 during collision. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.