Photocatalytic degradation of succinic acid in aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide: An initial kinetic investigation of co2photogeneration

Photocatalytic oxidation of succinic acid in aqueous suspensions of TiO2 has been investigated in a gas recycling reactor, following the CO2 formation. The rate of formation of CO2 was examined as a function of pH of the aqueous suspension, TiO2 loading, the concentration of succinic acid, temperature, irradiation time, flow rate, and light intensity. It is found that the rate of CO2 generation conforms a Langmuir‐Hinshelwood kinetic model. Rate constants were calculated by including a correction term α(T) which stands in order to take into account the decrease in the solubility of CO2 with increasing temperature. Activation energy is found to be 15.59 kJ/mole. A quantum yield of 0.27 for the CO2 formation has been estimated from the proposed mechanisms.