UV-Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants Using TiO₂ Nanoparticles

Abstract

The present study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of metamitron, a commonly used herbicide, under UV irradiation using titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as the photocatalyst. TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized via the hydrolysis method employing dilute sulfuric acid as an oxidizing agent and ammonia solution for precipitation. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques to confirm its structural and morphological properties. Photocatalytic experiments were conducted under UV light to evaluate the degradation efficiency of metamitron. The degradation kinetics were found to follow first-order reaction behavior. The extent of degradation was quantitatively monitored using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Additionally, the influence of various operational parameters such as solution pH, initial metamitron concentration, and catalyst loading was systematically examined to determine the optimal conditions for maximum degradation efficiency.