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International audienceThe photocatalytic activity of TiO2 deposits (Degussa P25 and Millennium PC500) has been studied using sulfamethoxazole (SMX) as a model water pollutant and a UV fluorescent lamp as a light source (365nm). Both catalysts have shown very similar properties in the photocatalytic degradation of SMX. Special attention has been given to the effect of the irradiation time, pH, and pollutant concentration. No mass-transfer limitations are observed. The degradation of SMX is accelerated at low concentration, and the photocatalytic degradation kinetics obey the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, allowing the adsorption and apparent rate constants to be determined for both catalysts

In this study, the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of isoproturon (one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture) was investigated in an annular photoreactor packed with a TiO 2 photocatalyst. The results highlighted that the monolayer Langmuir adsorption isotherm model was well obeyed. The isoproturon adsorption equilibrium constant was determined experimentally. The codegradation of isoproturon and of other copollutants such as salicylic acid and phenol occurred, demonstrating that within the catalyst, the same type of sites can be involved in the adsorption of the two pollutants. The heat of adsorption fell in the range of 20 to 50 8C and was found to be $43 kJ/mol. As expected, the adsorption constant K a decreased with increasing the fluid flow due to the temperature rise. The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of isoproturon revealed a first-order reaction for initial concentrations between 3 and 43 ppm. In our experimental conditions, no by-products were detected and total disappearance of isoproturon was observed.