Photocatalytic destruction of catechol on illuminated titania

First-order kinetics was found for the photocatalytic oxidation of catechol on TiO2. Kinetic constants calculated from the Langmuir-Hinshelwood equation are: k=2.03x10-8 mol dm-3 s-1; Kads=1.63x104 dm3 mol-1. Full catechol mineralization is a multistep reaction, 1,2,4-benzenetriol and glycol are the main intermediates.