Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanoparticles in the Degradation of Residues of Metribuzin

Abstract

In the present investigation, the Photocatalysis and photolysis of herbicide Metribuzin (class of 1,2,4-triazine) was investigated using TiO₂ nanoparticles at different pH 4, 7 and 9. In the present study, the optimum amount of the catalyst was used for the photocatalysis, effect of UV light, effect of aeration and effect of the addition of oxidant to the reaction mixture were studied. The TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by Sol-gel process and characterized by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The Metribuzin formulation of active strength 12.5% was used in this experiment. The rate of the reaction in this experiment was followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The half-life values of Metribuzin with TiO₂ in three different pH solutions were 4.73, 23.56 and 64.91 hours respectively. The optimum amount of catalyst used for this study was 100 mg L^-1. The rate of the reaction was rapid in acidic pH than in the basic and neutral pH values. The degradation was fast in the presence of sunlight and nanoparticles.