Effect of co-dissolved organic compounds on photocatalytic degradation of simetryn, prometryn, metolachlor, and sulfometuron methyl

Considering the practical application of water treatment with photocatalysts, it is important to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of target molecules in systems where other organic compounds is present. In this study, we investigated the effect of co-dissolved organic compounds on photocatalytic degradation of simetryn, prometryn, metolachlor, and sulfometuron methyl (Herbicides) using magnetic nano-sized TiO 2 -SiO 2 /Fe 3 O 4 photocatalysts. Regarding co-dissolved organic compounds, glucose, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and glycine were selected as model compounds of sugars, surfactants, and amino acids, by considering the major co-dissolved organic compounds in river water. The photocatalytic herbicide degradation reaction rate was decreased in the presence of co-dissolved organic compounds. Glucose had the greatest impact on the photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide. The inhibitory effect of co-dissolved organic compounds decreased in the order of glucose, SDS, and glycine. The order of effect of co-dissolved organic compounds agreed with the reactivity of each organic compound with • OH. Organic compound having high reactivity to reactive oxygen species would significantly inhibit the photocatalytic degradation of the herbicides.