Influence of hydrogen peroxide and methanol on the photocatalytic degradation of 1,3‐dihydroxybenzene

Effects of scavengers; hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 (an electron scavenger), and methanol, CH3OH (a hole scavenger) are examined for the photocatalytic degradation of 1,3‐dihydroxybenzene (1,3‐DHB), by following the carbon dioxide (CO2) formation in a gas recycling reactor. Addition of H2O2 as an electron trap enhances the CO2 formation rate for 1,3‐DHB, but there is a limit for the concentration of H2O2 above which hydroxyl radicals (*OH) are consumed in other reactions rather than taking part in oxidative routes. CH3OH being an hole scavenger decreases the degradation rate by reacting with photogenerated holes as well as *OH radicals.