Photocatalytic degradation of methylparathion - An endocrine disruptor by Bi??-doped TiO?

Abstract

The relationships between the catalyst physicochemical properties and its photocatalytic activity have been investigated and elucidated in the photodegradation of the organophosphate insecticide methylparathion. The photocatalytic degradation was investigated by using a sol¡Vgel synthesized Bi??-doped TiO?nanocatalyst (using doping concentrations up to 2 wt.% Bi??) under UV-A light in aqueous suspension. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, (environmental) scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, IR¡VUV¡Vvis absorption spectra, X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy and room- and low-temperature photoluminescence spectra. The photodegradation and mineralization products of methylparathion were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, dissolved organic carbon and ion chromatography techniques. The experiments demonstrated that the presence