Chinese Journal of Catalysis

Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2011, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1): 46-50.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(10)60158-1

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Photocatalytic Conversion of Naphthalene to α-Naphthol Using Nanometer-Sized TiO2

SHI Huixian1, ZHANG Tianyong1,2,*, WANG Hongliang3, WANG Xiao1, HE Meng1   

  1. 1School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; 2State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China; 3School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
  • Received:2010-06-28 Revised:2010-08-24 Online:2011-01-13 Published:2014-05-22

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Abstract: The effects of various parameters (co-solvents, electron acceptors, and surface modification) on the direct synthesis of α-naphthol from naphthalene using photocatalytic processes were investigated. The •OH radicals generated on UV-illuminated TiO2 photocatalysts led to the direct hydroxylation of naphthalene to α-naphthol. The addition of Fe3+, Fe2+, Fe3+ + H2O2, and Fe2+ + H2O2 greatly increases the conversion of naphthalene and the yield of α-naphthol in TiO2 suspensions. The addition of Fe3+ + H2O2 to a TiO2 suspension increased the yield to 22.2%. Surface modified-TiO2 had a significant influence on the hydroxylation reaction. La-Eu/TiO2, La-Y/TiO2, H3PW12O40/TiO2, H3PMo12O40/TiO2, Fe/TiO2, Ag/TiO2, Cu/TiO2, and N/TiO2 enhanced the conversion and yield more than TiO2. Fe/TiO2 has the highest photocatalytic efficiency among these species.

Key words: titanium dioxide, modification, photocatalysis, naphthalene, α-naphthol