The synthesis of sulphur and boron-containing titania photocatalysts and the evaluation of their photocatalytic activity

Aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of methyl-tert-butyl ether, p-toluidine, tert-butyl alcohol, i-propanol, 2-ethoxy ethanol and phenol, was studied using sulphur and boron-containing titania photocatalysts, active in visible light. The activity of the catalysts, compared to commercial Degussa P25, was tested in PCO of the pollutants dependent on the admixture content. The performance of S- and B–TiO2 under visible light in PCO of MTBE, TBA and i-propanol was surpassing that of P25 under UV. However, in respect of p-toluidine and phenol both S- and B-containing titania showed an inferior, although comparable, performance, to that of P25. Experiments were carried out under artificial and solar light.