Degradation of n-butyl benzyl phthalate using TiO2/UV

n-Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) has been classified as endocrine disrupting compound and priority pollutant. Effects of TiO2 dosage, pH, initial BBP concentration and co-existing substances on the degradation of BBP by TiO2/UV process were investigated. The optimal TiO2 dosage and pH value for the BBP degradation were 2.0 g L−1 and 7.0, respectively. The degradation rate of BBP by TiO2/UV process could be fitted pseudo-first-order kinetics. The effects of co-existing substances on the degradation rate of BBP revealed that some anions (such as BrO3−, ClO4− and Cr2O72−) could enhance BBP degradation, and other anions would restrain BBP degradation. The sequence of inhibition was PO43− > CO32− > NO3− > SO42− > Cl−. The cations K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ had the restrained effect on the BBP degradation, and the effect of Ca2+ was the strongest among four cations tested. The organic compounds acetone and methanol decreased the degradation rate of BBP. The major intermediates of BBP degradation were identified as mono-butyl phthalate, mono-benzyl phthalate and phthalic acid, and a primary degradation mechanism was proposed.