Photocatalysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in water: Towards a deeper understanding of the role of cyclodextrins in the photodegradation of toluene over titanium dioxide.

Hypothesis: Cyclodextrin-assisted photodegradation of toluene was investigated in water in the presence of a photo-irradiated commercial titanium dioxide photocatalyst. It was expected that cyclodextrins could form water-soluble supramolecular host/guest complexes with the toluene and thus promote the approach of the pollutant on the TiO2 surface and enhance the phototocatalytic oxidation efficiency.

Experiments: Photodegradation kinetics of toluene were investigated under UV-C and near-visible light radiation in aqueous suspensions of TiO2.

Cyclodextrins adsorbed onto activated carbons: preparation, characterization, and effect on the dispersibility of the particles in water.

We have investigated the adsorption equilibrium of selected cyclodextrins onto activated carbons. A number of parameters were examined including the type of carbon material, the size of macrocyclic cavity, and the chemical nature of the oligosaccharide (e.g.