Titanium dioxide photocatalytic degradation of aliphatic ethers and their primary oxidation products
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Major/Program
Chemistry
First Advisor's Name
Kevin E. O'Shea
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
William J. Cooper
Third Advisor's Name
Ramon Lopez de la Vega
Fourth Advisor's Name
Stanislaw Wnuk
Date of Defense
11-20-2001
Abstract
Two studies were performed to obtain fundamental mechanistic information on the TiO2 catalyzed degradation of organic substrates irradiated at 350 nm in dilute aqueous solutions under oxygenated conditions: (a) The photodecomposition of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and its intermediate products from β - oxidation, 2-methoxy-2-methylpropanol and 2-methoxy-2-methylpropanal. (b) The photodecomposition of two haloethers, bis-(2-chloroethyl) ether, and bis-(2-chloroisopropyl) ether. Controls were carried out throughout the two studies in the absence of light, and without the semiconductor in order to evaluate the role of photolysis.
The syntheses of proposed intermediate products, 2-methoxy-2-methylpropanol, 2-methoxy-2-methylpropanal, 2-methoxy-2-methylpropanoic acid, 2-chloroethyl formate, and 1-chloro-2-propyl acetate, were performed. The formation of these products in the titanium dioxide photocatalytic oxidation of the substrates of interest was also confirmed. TiO2 photocatalysis is a very effective method for the mineralization of aliphatic ethers and their primary oxidation products.
Identifier
FI14061553
Recommended Citation
Cruz, Vivian, "Titanium dioxide photocatalytic degradation of aliphatic ethers and their primary oxidation products" (2001). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2677.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2677
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