A kinetic model based on non-linear regression analysis is proposed for the degradation of phenol under UV/solar light using nitrogen doped TiO2

▶ A kinetic/mathematical model was developed based on the nonlinear regression analysis and the validity of the model was tested by comparing the experimentally observed and theoretically calculated data. Although this kind of model was applied for TiO2 based photocatalysis to some extent by few research groups, so far it is never attempted elaborately for nitrogen doped (TiO2−xNx) photocatalysis process. ▶ The use of electron acceptor in photocatalytic reactions involving nitrogen doped TiO2 is never attempted. ▶ Though we find impressive number of publications for the use of hydrogen peroxide as an electron acceptor, least approach is made towards the application of ammonium persulfate in the photocatalysis. ▶ The photocatalysis of TiO2−xNx in the presence of ammonium persulfate seems to be more efficient than hydrogen peroxide. ▶ This model provides the information about the effect of exact operational parameters.