Photocatalytic decomposition of CCl4 on Zr-MCM-41

Abstract Photocatalytic decomposition of CCl 4 (80 mg L −1 in H 2 O) effected by Zr-MCM-41 (Zr incorporated in the amorphous wall of MCM-41) has been studied in the present work. Experimentally, photocatalytic decomposition of CCl 4 on Zr-MCM-41 was enhanced by about 1.96 times over that on ZrO 2 . Photocatalytic decomposition of CCl 4 may proceed via a two-electron transfer process that yields mainly CHCl 3 , Cl − and H 2 . Since little C 2 Cl 2 , C 2 Cl 6 or CH 2 Cl 2 was found, it is unlikely that CHCl 3 involved in the secondary photocatalytic degradation process. In addition, photocatalytic splitting of H 2 O on Zr-MCM-41 was also enhanced. The yield of H 2 was 6.5 mmol (g ZrO 2 ) −1 . About 68% of this hydrogen (6.5 mmol (g ZrO 2 ) −1 ) was consumed in the photocatalytic decomposition of CCl 4 .