Photocatalytic destruction of fulvic acids by oxygen in the TiO2 suspension

The paper presents a short review of the published data dealing with the photocatalytic (O2/TiO2/UV) oxidation of humic and fulvic acids that represent main organic impurities of natural waters. The possibility of achieving a deep destruction (≥ 90% in terms of TOC) of fulvic acids separated from the water of the Dnieper River during the process of photocatalytic oxidation by oxygen was shown for a wide interval of pH (3–8). The photocatalytic activity of a series of commercial TiO2 samples in different isomorphic states was estimated and the impact of certain parameters of photocatalytic oxidation on the degree of complete destruction of fulvic acids was determined.