Effective photocatalytic degradation of atrazine over titania-coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coupled with microwave energy

Microwave-assisted photocatalytic (MAPC) degradation of atrazine over nanotitania coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO(2)/MWCNTs) was investigated in this study. As a result, degradation efficiency of atrazine over TiO(2)/CNTs prepared by hydrothermal method was about 30% and 20% higher than that of titania P25 and anatase prepared hydrothermally in given time. The TiO(2)/CNTs composite samples were characterized by TGA-DSC, TEM, UV-vis DRS, XRD and BET, to explain the reason for efficient degradation and adsorption process of atrazine. Microwave thermal effect in this process was also investigated. Intermediates of degradation both in MAPC process and microwave-assisted photodegradation (MAPD) process were identified by LC/MS. It suggests that MWCNTs have special effects on atrazine degradation during MAPC process, like strong microwave absorption capability.