Simultaneous Hydrogen Production with the Degradation of Naphthalene in Seawater Using Solar Light-Responsive Carbon-Modified (CM)-n-TiO₂ Photocatalyst

Yasser A. Shaban

Marine Chemistry Department, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA&National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries, Qayet Bay, Alexandria, Egypt.

DOI: 10.4236/mrc.2013.23A002                

Abstract

The simultaneous photocatalytic production of hydrogen and degradation of naphthalene in seawater was successfully achieved using carbon modified titanium oxide (CM-n-TiO₂) nanoparticles under natural sunlight illumination. Compared to unmodified titanium oxide (n-TiO₂), CM-n-TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited significantly higher photocatalytic efficiency. It is considered that carbon modification is responsible for the significant enhancement in the observed photoactivity. The experimental results indicated that the simultaneous production of hydrogen and degradation of naphthalene was favorable at pH 8 and optimal catalyst dose of 1.0 g.L^-1. The solar photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene in seawater using CM-n-TiO₂ successfully fitted using Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, and can be described by pseudo-first order kinetic model.

Keywords

Photocatalysis; Titanium Oxide; Carbon Modification; Hydrogen Production; Naphthalene

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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