Photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene and anthracene: GC-MS analysis of the degradation pathway

Abstract
The mechanism of the photocatalytic transformation of naphthalene and anthracene has been studied qualitatively in aqueous suspensions of titanium dioxide under UV-irradiation. The degradation products were identified by GC-MS technique. 15 different intermediates have been identified during the photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene. A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed to explain their formation. For the photocatalytic degradation of anthracene phthalic acid and 9, 10-anthraquinone have been found as relatively stable intermediates. Their photocatalytic degradation has been followed in separate experiments to achieve further clarification of the reaction pathway.