Effect of TiO2 modification with fluorine on the physicochemical properties and activity in the photocatalytic oxidation of pollutants in air under UV irradiation

The influence of the modification of the TiO₂ surface with F^? ions on the physicochemical properties of the catalysts and efficiency in the photooxidation of gaseous molecules under atmospheric conditions and under UV irradiation was studied by IR spectroscopy. The fluorine-containing samples adsorb more water molecules than unmodified TiO₂. The amount of adsorbed water increases with increasing content of surface fluoride ions. The fluorination of the TiO₂ surface first leads to the substitution of the terminal OH groups by F^? ions and to an increase in acidity of the bridging acidic OH groups remained on the surface. The modification also results in the structural rearrangement of the surface involving defective and surface Ti⁴⁺ sites. Fluorine modification increases the activity of TiO₂ in the photocatalytic oxidation of ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and acetone. At the same time, benzene and H₂S are oxidized more rapidly on unmodified TiO₂. The presence of fluorine on the TiO₂ surface exerts almost no effect on the oxidation rate of chlorine-containing substrates C₃H₇Cl and C₂H₄Cl₂.

     

Patterning Effect of a Sol-Gel TiO2 Overlayer on the Photocatalytic Activity of a TiO2/SnO2 Bilayer-Type Photocatalyst

TiO₂ films with a thickness of 75 ± 5 nm (anatase) were formed on SnO₂-film (580 ± 80 nm) coated soda-lime glass substrates (SnO₂/SL-glass) by a sol-gel method. Although the photocatalytic activity for CH₃CHO oxidation (_ex > 300 nm) significantly exceeded that of a standard TiO₂/quartz sample, it decayed with illumination time (t) at t > 0.75 h. Stripes of anatase TiO₂ films of 40 nm in thickness and 1 mm in width were prepared on the SnO₂/SL-glass substrate in a 1-mm pitch by photolysis of an organically modified sol-gel film. The TiO₂ patterning further increased the photocatalytic activity by a factor of 4.1 as compared to the non-patterned sample, and it was also maintained at 0 < t < 2 h. The flat band potentials of the TiO₂ and SnO₂ films are determined to be –0.34 and +0.07 V (vs. SHE), respectively, at pH = 7 by the Mott-Schottky plots. On the basis of the results, the outstanding patterning effects could be rationalized in terms of the vectorial charge separation at the interface between TiO₂ and SnO₂.     

Doping level effect on visible-light irradiation W-doped TiO2–anatase photocatalysts for Congo red photodegradation

A series of W-modified TiO₂ (W–TiO₂) photocatalysts were synthesized by a simple sol–gel method. The new photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area analyzer. The photoactivity of the W–TiO₂ photocatalysts was evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation of Congo red (CR) dye. It was found that the average size of the prepared photocatalysts is 10 nm. Moreover, they have high surface areas (∼ 216 m² g⁻¹) and their light-absorption extends to the visible region compared to pure TiO₂. The effects of W-loading and of the calcination temperature of the prepared photocatalysts on their photocatalytic activity were also studied. The obtained results show that the W_0.5–TiO₂ photocatalyst calcined at 350 °C is much highly photoactive than non-doped or highly doped TiO₂. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the weakly doped TiO₂ may be attributed to the increase in the charge separation efficiency and the presence of surface acidity on the W_0.5–TiO₂ photocatalyst.     

Effects of hydroxyl radicals and oxygen species on the 4-chlorophenol degradation by photoelectrocatalytic reactions with TiO2-film electrodes

The supported nano-TiO₂ electrode was prepared by sol–gel and hydrothermal method, and the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) under UV irradiation has been investigated to reveal the roles of hydroxyl radicals and dissolved oxygen species for TiO₂-assisted photocatalytic reactions. The degradation kinetics, the formation and decay of intermediates, the isotopic tracer experiments with H₂O¹⁸, the removal yield of total organic carbon and the formation of active radical species in the presence of oxygen or not were examined by HPLC, GC–MS, TOC and spin-trap ESR spectrometry. It was found that most of OH radicals in the primary hydroxylated intermediates derived from the oxidation of adsorbed H₂O or HO⁻ by photo-holes in the electrochemically assisted TiO₂ photocatalytic system. It also indicates that the enhancement in the separation efficiency of photogenerated charges by applying a positive bias (+0.5 V vs SCE) has little role in the following decomposition and mineralization of these hydroxylated intermediates in the absence of oxygen. According to above experimental results, the pathway of 4-CP photocatalytic degradation was deduced initially. Due to the combined effect of OH radicals and dissolved oxygen species, the hydroxylated 4-chlorphenol, via cis, cis-3-chloromuconic acid, was decomposed into low molecular weight acid and CO₂.     

High levelab initio stabilization energies of benzene

Summary G2 theory is shown to be reliable for calculating isodesmic and homodesmotic stabilization energies (ISE and HSE, respectively) of benzene. G2 calculations give HSE and ISE values of 92.5 and 269.1 kJ mol^–1 (298 K), respectively. These agree well with the experimental HSE and ISE values of 90.5±7.2 and 268.7±6.3 kJ mol^–1, respectively. We conclude that basis set superposition error corrections to the enthalpies of the homodesmotic or isodesmic reactions are not necessary in calculations of the stabilization energies of benzene using G2 theory. The calculated values of the enthalpies of formation of such molecules containing multiple bonds such as benzene ands-trans 1,3-butadiene, which are found from the enthalpies of isodesmic and homodesmotic reactions rather than of atomization reactions, demonstrate good performance of G2 theory. Estimates of theH _f ^o value for benzene from the G2 calculated enthalpies of homodesmotic reaction (2) and isodesmic reaction (3) are 80.9 and 82.5 kJ mol^–1 (298 K), respectively. These are very close to the experimentalH _f ^o value of 82.9±0.3 kJ mol^–1. TheH _f ^o value ofs-trans 1,3-butadiene calculated using the G2 enthalpy of isodesmic reaction (4) is 110.5 kJ mol^–1 and is in excellent agreement with the experimentalH _f ^o value of 110.0±1.1 kJ mol^–1.     

Characterization of Fumed Alumina/Silica/Titania in the Gas Phase and in Aqueous Suspension

Fumed oxide alumina/silica/titania was studied in comparison with fumed alumina, silica, titania, alumina/silica, and titania/silica by means of XRD, ¹H NMR, IR, optical, dielectric relaxation, and photon correlation spectroscopies, electrophoresis, and quantum chemical methods. The explored Al₂O₃/SiO₂/TiO₂ consists of amorphous alumina (22 wt%), amorphous silica (28 wt%), and crystalline titania (50 wt%, with a blend of anatase (88%) and rutile (12%)) and has a wide assortment of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites, which provide a greater acidity than that of individual fumed alumina, silica, or titania and an acidity close to that of fumed alumina/silica or titania/silica. The changes in the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) of interfacial water in an aqueous suspension of Al₂O₃/SiO₂/TiO₂ are close to the ΔG values of the dispersions of pure rutile but markedly lower than those of alumina, anatase, or rutile covered by alumina and silica. The zeta potential of Al₂O₃/SiO₂/TiO₂ (pH of the isoelectric point (IEP) equals ≈3.3) is akin to that of fumed titania (pH(IEP_TiO2) ≈ 6) at pH > 6, but it significantly differs from the ζ of fumed alumina (pH(IEP_Al2O3) ≈ 9.8) at any pH value as well as those of fumed silica, titania/silica, and alumina/silica at pH < 6. The particle size distribution in the diluted aqueous suspensions of Al₂O₃/SiO₂/TiO₂ studied by means of photon correlation spectroscopy depends relatively slightly on pH in contrast to the titania/silica or alumina/silica dispersions. Theoretical calculations of oxide cluster interaction with water show a high probability of hydrolysis of Al–O–Ti and Si–O–Ti bonds strained at the interface of alumina/titania or silica/titania due to structural differences in the lattices of the corresponding individual oxides. Ab initio calculated chemical shift δ_H values of H atoms in different hydroxyl groups at the oxide clusters and in bound water molecules are in agreement with the ¹H NMR data and show a significant impact of charged particles (H₃O⁺ or OH⁻) on the average δ_H values of water droplets with (H₂O)_n at n between 2 and 48.     

Preparation of photocatalytic nano-ZnO/TiO2 film and application for determination of chemical oxygen demand

A composite nano-ZnO/TiO₂ film as photocatalyst was fabricated with vacuum vaporized and sol-gel methods. The nano-ZnO/TiO₂ film improved the separate efficiency of the charge and extended the range of spectrum, which showed a higher efficiency of photocatalytic than the pure nano-TiO₂ and nano-ZnO film. The photocatalytic mechanism of nano-ZnO/TiO₂ film was discussed, too. A new method for determination of low chemical oxidation demand (COD) value in ground water based on nano-ZnO/TiO₂ film using the photocatalytic oxidation technology was founded. This method was originated from the direct determination of the Mn(VII) concentration change resulting from photocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds on the nano-ZnO/TiO₂ film, and the COD values were calculated from the absorbance of Mn(VII). Under the optimal operation conditions, the detection limit of 0.1 mg l⁻¹, COD values with the linear range of 0.3-10.0 mg l⁻¹ were achieved. The results were in good agreement with those from the conventional COD methods.     

Catalytic Role of TiO2 Terminal Oxygen Atoms in Liquid‐Phase Photocatalytic Reactions: Oxidation of Aromatic Compounds in Anhydrous Acetonitrile

On the basis of experiments carried out with controlled amounts of residual oxygen and water, or by using oxygen‐isotope‐labeled Ti¹⁸O₂ as the photocatalyst, we demonstrate that ¹⁸O_s atoms behave as real catalytic species in the photo‐oxidation of acetonitrile‐dissolved aromatic compounds such as benzene, phenol, and benzaldehyde with TiO₂. The experimental evidence allows a terminal‐oxygen indirect electron‐transfer (TOIET) mechanism to be proposed, which is a new pathway that involves the trapping of free photogenerated valence‐band holes at O_s species and their incorporation into the reaction products, with simultaneous generation of oxygen vacancies at the TiO₂ surface and their subsequent healing with oxygen atoms from either O₂ or H₂O molecules that are dissolved in the liquid phase. According to the TOIET mechanism, the TiO₂ surface is not considered to remain stable, but is continuously changing in the course of the photocatalytic reaction, challenging earlier interpretations of TiO₂ photocatalytic phenomena.     

Complexation between Iron(III) and β-Hydroxyethylimino-N,N-Diethanoic and Dicarboxylic Acids in Aqueous Solutions

The reactions of iron(III) with -hydroxyethylimino-N,N-diethanoic acid (H₂Heida) and dicarboxy-lic acids (oxalic (H₂Ox), malonic (H₂Mal), and succinic (H₂Suc)) are studied using the spectrophotometric method. The equilibrium pattern in the binary and ternary systems is investigated. The complexation processes were shown to be complicated by hydrolysis and to depend strongly on the acidity of the medium. The following complexes were detected: FeHeida⁺, Fe(OH)Heida, Fe(OH)₂Heida^–, Fe(Heida)Ox^–, Fe(OH)(Heida)Ox^2–, Fe(OH)₂(Heida)Ox^3–, Fe(Heida)Mal^–, Fe(OH)(Heida)Mal^2–. Logarithms of the stability constants of these complexes calculated at = 0.1 (NaClO₄) and T = 20 ± 2°C are equal to 11.64 ± 0.05, 22.97 ± 0.05, 31.17 ± 0.05, 18.83 ± 0.03, 28.27 ± 0.02, 36.14 ± 0.02, 17.64 ± 0.03, and 26.39 ± 0.03, respectively.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the oxidation of the octacyanoniobate(III)ion by oxyanions in alkaline aqueous media

Summary The kinetics and mechanisms of the oxidation of Nb(CN) _inf8 ^sup5– by the oxyanions S₂O _inf8 ^sup2– , BrO _inf3 ^sup– , and IO _inf4 ^sup– have been investigated in alkaline aqueous media (pH 12). The second-order rate constant for the electron transfer reaction between Nb(CN) _inf8 ^sup5– and S₂O _inf8 ^sup2– at 25.0 °C, I = 0.36m (K⁺), is 11.1± 0.3 m ^–1 s ^–1 with H = 30 ± 2kJmol^–1 and S = - 125 + 7JK^–1 mol^–1. The rate constant for the oxidation of Nb(CN) _inf8 ^sup5– by BrO _inf3 ^sup– at 25.0 °C, I = 0.20m (Na⁺), is 2.39 ± 0.08m ^–1 s ^–1 with H = 28 ± 2kJmol^–1 and S = -139 ± 7JK^–1mol^–1. The oxidation of Nb(CN) _inf8 ^sup5– by IO _inf4 ^sup– proceeds by two parallel pathways involving the monomeric IO _inf4 ^sup– ion and the hydrated dimer H₂I₂O _inf10 ^sup4– . The second-order rate constant for the oxidation of Nb(CN) _inf8 ^sup5– by monomeric IO _inf4 ^sup– at 5.0 °C, I = 0.050m (Na⁺), is (3.3 ± 0.6) × 10³ m ^–1 s ^–1 with H = 75 ± 6 kJ mol^–1 and S = 94 ± 15 J K^–1 mol^–1, while the rate constant for the oxidation by H₂I₂O _inf10 ^sup4– is (1.8 ± 0.1) × 10³ m ^–1 s ^–1 with H = 97 ± 5 kJ mol^–1 and S = 166 ± 16 J K^–1 mol^–1 under the same reaction conditions. The rate constants for each of the oxidants employed display specific cation catalysis with the order of increasing rate constants: Li⁺ < Na+ < NH _inf4 ^sup+ < K⁺ < Rb⁺ < Cs⁺, in the same direction as the electronic polarizability of the cations. The results are discussed in terms of the outer-sphere electron-transfer processes and compared with the corresponding data and mechanisms reported for other metal-cyano reductants.     

Correlation of the Catalytic Activity for Oxidation Taking Place on Various TiO2 Surfaces with Surface OH Groups and Surface Oxygen Vacancies

Three catalytic oxidation reactions have been studied: The ultraviolet (UV) light induced photocatalytic decomposition of the synthetic dye sulforhodamine B (SRB) in the presence of TiO₂ nanostructures in water, together with two reactions employing Au/TiO₂ nanostructure catalysts, namely, CO oxidation in air and the decomposition of formaldehyde under visible light irradiation. Four kinds of TiO₂ nanotubes and nanorods with different phases and compositions were prepared for this study, and gold nanoparticle (Au‐NP) catalysts were supported on some of these TiO₂ nanostructures (to form Au/TiO₂ catalysts). FTIR emission spectroscopy (IES) measurements provided evidence that the order of the surface OH regeneration ability of the four types of TiO₂ nanostructures studied gave the same trend as the catalytic activities of the TiO₂ nanostructures or their respective Au/TiO₂ catalysts for the three oxidation reactions. Both IES and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved that anatase TiO₂ had the strongest OH regeneration ability among the four types of TiO₂ phases or compositions. Based on these results, a model for the surface OH group generation, absorption, and activation of molecular oxygen has been proposed: The oxygen vacancies at the bridging O^2? sites on TiO₂ surfaces dissociatively absorb water molecules to form OH groups that facilitate adsorption and activation of O₂ molecules in nearby oxygen vacancies by lowering the absorption energy of molecular O₂. A new mechanism for the photocatalytic formaldehyde decomposition with the Au/TiO₂ catalysts is also proposed, based on the photocatalytic activity of the Au‐NPs under visible light. The Au‐NPs absorb the light owing to the surface plasmon resonance effect and mediate the electron transfers that the reaction needs.     

原位红外光谱法研究La/TiO2对有机污染物的光催化降解

本工作采用改进的溶胶-凝胶法和浸渍法制备了TiO₂掺杂稀土离子La³⁺的La/TiO₂光催化剂，运用XRD、N₂吸附脱附、紫外可见漫反射光谱(DRS)、表面光电压谱(SPS)等手段进行表征，同时利用原位红外技术考察了La/TiO₂样品光催化降解乙烯、丙酮、苯的气-固相光催化氧化反应，对其光催化降解有机污染物的过程进行了研究。结果表明，TiO₂经适量La³⁺掺杂后，锐钛矿晶型的含量增加，晶粒度减小，比表面积增大，禁带宽度增加，表面光电压信号增强，光生电子-空穴对有效分离；La/TiO₂样品对乙烯、丙酮、苯的光催化性能与纯TiO₂相比均有不同程度的改善，乙烯可以被光催化氧化完全矿化生成CO₂，而丙酮被光催化氧化可能生成中间产物丙酸，苯被光催化氧化可能生成中间产物苯酚和苯醌。     

Magnetic resonance study of annealed and rinsed N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of nitrogen-modified TiO₂ (N-doped TiO₂) calcined at 300°C and 350°C, have been prepared with and without water rinsing. Samples were characterized by x-ray diffractrometry (XRD) and optical spectroscopy. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra from centers involving oxygen vacancies were recorded for all samples. These could be attributed to paramagnetic surface centers of the hole type, for example to paramagnetic oxygen radicals O^?, O₂ ^? etc. The concentration of these centers increased after water rising and it further increased for samples annealed at higher temperature. Additionally, for samples calcined at 300°C, and calcined at 350°C and rinsed, the EPR spectra evidenced the presence of magnetic clusters of Ti³⁺ ions. The photocatalytic activity of samples was studied towards phenol decomposition under unltraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) irradiation. It was found that, in comparison to the starting materials, the rinsed materials showed increased photocatalytic activity towards phenol oxidation. The light absorption (UV-Vis/DRS) as well as surface Fourier transform infrared/diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR/DR) studies confirmed a significantly enhanced light absorption and the presence of nitrogen groups on the photocatalysts surfaces, respectively. A significant increase of concentration of paramagnetic centers connected with oxygen vacancies after water rising has had an essential influence on increasing their photocatalytic activity.      

Kinetics of stepwise oxidation of manganese(II) by peroxodisulphate in phosphoric acid medium

Summary The oxidation of Mn^II by S₂O₈ ^2– to Mn^VII in phosphoric acid medium proceeds via a stable Mn^III and Mn^IV species. The reaction is catalysed by Ag⁺ and exhibits first order dependence on [S₂O₈ ^2–], [Ag⁺] and, is independent of [Mn^II]. The [H⁺] has no significant effect on the reaction. It is observed that the PO₄ ^3– ion stabilises the transient manganese(III) and manganese(IV) species by forming a stable and soluble phosphato-complexes. The activation parameters for the two stages of oxidation, namely Mn^II Mn^IV and Mn^IVMn^VII at 25° C are E_a=52 ±4 kJ mole^–1, S^*=–57±2 JK^–1 mole^–1 and E_a =56±4 kJ mole^–1, S^*=–44±2 JK^–1 mole^–1, respectively. A mechanism consistent with the experimental observations is proposed.Presented at the National Symposium on Reaction Kinetics and Mechanism, Department of Chemistry, University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur, India, Nov. 15–18, 1986.     

Correlation between acidic properties of nickel catalysts and catalytic activities for ethylene dimerization and butene isomerization

Catalytic activities of NiO–SiO₂ for ethylene dimerization and butene isomerization run parallel when the catalysts are activated by evacuation at elevated temperatures, giving two maxima in activities. The variations in catalytic activities are closely correlated to the acidity of NiO–SiO₂ catalysts. Catalytic activities of NiO–TiO₂ catalysts modified with H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄, H₃BO₃, and H₂SeO₄ for ethylene dimerization and butene isomerization were examined. The order of catalytic activities for both reactions was found to be NiO–TiO₂/SO₄^2- >> NiO–TiO₂/PO₄^3-NiO–TiO₂/BO₃^3- > NiO–TiO₂/SeO₄^2-> NiO–TiO₂, showing clear dependence of catalytic activity upon acid strength. The high catalytic activity of supported nickel sulfate for ethylene dimerization was related to the increase of acidity and acid strength due to the addition of NiSO₄. The asymmetric stretching frequency of the S=O bonds for supported NiSO₄ catalysts was related to the acidic properties and catalytic activity. That is, the higher the frequency, the larger both the acidity and catalytic activity. For NiSO₄/Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ catalyst, the addition of Al₂O₃ up to 5 mol% enhanced catalytic activity for ethylene dimerzation and strong acidity gradually due to the formation of Al–O–Zr bond. The active sites responsible for ethylene dimerization consist of a low-valent nickel, Ni⁺, and an acid, as evidenced by the IR spectra of CO adsorbed on NiSO₄/ -Al₂O₃ and Ni 2p XPS.     

Spectral and kinetic characteristics of the α-propionic acid methyl ester radical in cyclohexane and water

The -propionic acid methyl ester radical was produced in dissociative electron capture reaction of 2-chloropropionic acid methyl ester. The absorption maxima of the radical are at 310 and 300 nm in cyclohexane and water with extinction coefficients of 440±50 and 400±50 mol^–1 dm³ cm^–1. The second order decay rate parameter in water is (2.3±0.5)×10⁹ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1. The peroxy radicals have the characteristics: _max=265–270 nm, _max=700–900 mol^–1 dm³ and 2k=(7±2)·10⁸ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over mesoporous TiO2/metal nanocomposites

Na⁺ complex with the dibenzo-18-crown-6 ester was used as a template to synthesize mesoporous titanium dioxide with the specific surface area 130–140 m²/g, pore diameter 5–9 nm and anatase content 70–90%. The mesoporous TiO₂ samples prepared were found to have photocatalytic activity in Cu^II, Ni^II and Ag^I reduction by aliphatic alcohols. The resulting metal–semiconductor nanostructures have remarkable photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution from water–alcohol mixtures, their efficiency being 50–60% greater than that of the metal-containing nano-composites based on TiO₂ Degussa P25.The effects of the thermal treatment of mesoporous TiO₂ upon its photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production were studied. The anatase content and pore size were found to be the basic parameters determining the photoreaction rate. The growth of the quantum yield of hydrogen evolution from TiO₂/Ag⁰ to TiO₂/Ni⁰ to TiO₂/Cu⁰ was interpreted in terms of differences in the electronic interaction between metal nanoparticles and the semiconductor surface. It was found that there is an optimal metal concentration range where the quantum yield of hydrogen production is maximal. A decrease in the photoreaction rate at further increment in the metal content was supposed to be connected with the enlargement of metal nanoparticles and deterioration of the intimate electron interaction between the components of the metal–semiconductor nanocomposites.     

Effect of inorganic ions on the photocatalytic degradation of humic acid

The article studies on the effects of six inorganic ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^?, SO ₄ ^2? , H₂PO ₄ ^? , and HCO ₃ ^? ) on titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-based photocatalytic degradation of humic acid (HA). We focus on the effects of the inorganic ions on HA characters, adsorption of HA on TiO₂ and photocatalytic degradation of HA. The results indicate that Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ with HA can form complexes which can decrease the solubility of HA, and then increase the HA adsorbed on TiO₂. However, the complex is more difficult to be degraded than HA. The effects of Cl^? and SO ₄ ^2? are closely related to their influences on HA solubility. The solubility changes of HA to some extent can enhance the adsorption of HA on TiO₂, and promote the photocatalytic degradation. Nevertheless, great solubility decreasing of HA can weaken the photocatalytic degradation. HCO ₃ ^? and H₂PO ₄ ^? can inhibit the photocatalytic degradation process seriously, because HCO ₃ ^? and H₂PO ₄ ^? are the strong scavengers of hydroxyl radicals, and can weaken the adsorption of HA on TiO₂ due to adsorption competition.     

Characterization of TiO2 thin film immobilized on glass tube and its application to PCE photocatalytic destruction

TiO₂ was immobilized on to the surface of a pyrex glass tube through a dip coating process, and a pyrex glass tube with TiO₂ thin film was used as a batch reactor and continuous flow reactor for the photocatalytic destruction of PCE in water. TiO₂ could be successfully immobilized with a thickness of 0.3 μm in the pyrex glass tube. The TiO₂-immobilized pyrex glass tube itself showed high photocatalytic activity for the destruction of PCE in water.