Photocatalytic degradation of 4-cahlorophenol and 3-chlorophenol was studied using Ag and Pd doped on P25 Degussa TiO₂.  The Ag/ TiO₂ and Pd/ TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared by sol immobilization method.  The prepared photocatalysts were used in photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol and 3-chlorophenol respectively and monitored using HPLC.  The resulting solution from the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol and 3-chlorophenol were filtered and the catalyst washed and dried. The dried catalysts were subsequently used again under the same experimental condition with a fresh 4-chlorophenol and 3-chlorophenol respectively. The re-usability curve of the 4-chlorophenol and 3-chlorophenol photodegradation using 0.5% Pd/ TiO₂ and 0.5% Ag/ TiO₂ were obtained. The comparison of the result obtained indicates that pd/TiO₂ has a photodegradation efficiency of 78.44% within 120 minutes’ irradiation while Ag- TiO₂ has a photodegradation efficiency of 82.44%. The result indicates that the photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol is smoother than 3-chlorophenol because of inductive and mesomeric effect on ortho-para and meta-position. The re-usability curve indicates that the 0.5% Pd/ TiO₂ and Ag/ TiO₂ used for 4 times in photo-degradation gives reduction in concentration of chlorophenol except for the fourth usage which is attributed to catalyst leaching. The calculation of rate constant indicates that the photo-degradation of 4-chlorophenol and 3-chloropnehol follows pseudo-first order reaction kinetics. These indicate that the use of dopants increases the photocatalytic efficiency titanium dioxide.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3367512

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