Investigation of factors that influence TiO2 photoassisted degradations under simultaneous illumination by UV and microwave radiation fields

Characteristic microwave effects on the TiO2 behavior in photoassisted processes have been examined for surface affinity, electric surface charge, size of aggregated TiO2 particles, and not least the number of (OH)-O-center dot radicals formed using in situ observation techniques. Novel microwave and UV radiation components were assembled to investigate the microwave effects. Microwave radiation can influence analytical instruments. Hence, the assembled components were designed so as to microwave irradiate only the sample solution containing the TiO2 photomediator particles. Peculiar microwave effects implicated in photoassisted reactions involve both thermal and non-thermal factors. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.