Degradation of o-Chloranil Using Nanocrystalline-Cellulose/TiO2 Composites via a Solar Photocatalytic Route

ABSTRACT Water pollution by organic pollutants is a continuous and increasing problem of global concern. In this paper, we developed nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) titania (TiO2) based nanocomposite for the photocatalytic degradation o-chloranil via aqueous wet impregnation. Different NCC loadings (10, 20, 40, 80%) were used, several analytical microscopy techniques characterised NCC/TiO2 catalyst. The efficiency TiO2 as photo-catalyst was enhanced through chiral nematic nature potential charge carrier capacity NCC, which lowered rate electron recombination. material used in solar-driven photo-degradation (3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone), by-product commonly pesticide. successful decomposition led to identification three breakdown products, namely 2,3-dichloro-4,5-dioxohex-2-enedoic acid (DCA), 2,3-dioxosuccinic (DSA) oxalic (OA). 20% catalyst found be optimum showed excellent mineralisation within 2 hours (~90% after or 0.00920 mols total 0.0102 mols). products analysed identified using GC-MS. offers many benefits, including ease preparation, low cost-factor, high stability with no loss activity. Keywords: cellulose; o-chloroanil; photocatalyst; photo-degradation;