Photocatalytic degradation of wastewater pollutants: Titanium dioxide-mediated oxidation of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole

Abstract

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) is known as a widespread, toxic and poorly biodegradable pollutant. In this study, the results of photocatalysed degradation of MBT, an industrial pollutant, in aqueous solutions using suspended titanium dioxide are presented. The rate of MBT degradation as a function of pH, amount of TiO 2 and flow of O 2 was investigated and their optimum values were obtained. Carbon dioxide, ammonia and sulphate ion yield measurements indicate that almost complete mineralization occurs in the final phase of oxidation with some indication of benzothiazole-2-sulfonate (BTSO 3) as intermediate.