PHOTO-OXIDATION OF FORMIC ACID BY OXYGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE AND DISSOLVED COPPER IONS: OXYGEN TRANSFER AND REACTION KINETICS

Abstract

Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 in the oxidation by oxygen of formic acid is considerably enhanced by the presence of dissolved copper ions. The role of oxygen transfer between the gas phase and the slurry is examined. The kinetic results obtained in the absence of mass transfer limitations lead to a mechanism based upon a redox cycle between Cu2+ and Cu+ species adsorbed on the surface of TiO2.