Reductive Photodegradation of 4,4'-Isopropylidenebis(2,6-dibromophenol) on Fe₃O₄ Surface

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) are the water treatment techniques that are commonly used forthe decomposition of the non-biodegradable organic pollutants. However, some pollutants are electron deficient and thus resistant to attack by reactive oxygen species (e.g., polyhalogenated compounds) but they may be degraded under reductive conditions. Therefore, reductive methods are alternative or supplementary methods to the well-known oxidative degradation ones.

In this paper, the degradation of 4,4'-isopropylidenebis(2,6-dibromophenol) (TBBPA, tetrabromobisphenol A) using two Fe₃O₄ magnetic photocatalyst (F1 and F2) is presented. The morphological, structural and surface properties of catalysts were studied. Their catalytic efficiency was evaluated based on reactions under reductive and oxidative conditions. Quantum chemical calculations were used to analyse early steps of degradation mechanism.

The studied photocatalytic degradation reactions undergo pseudo-first order kinetics. The photocatalytic reduction process follows the Eley-Rideal mechanism rather than the commonly used Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism.

The study confirms that both magnetic photocatalyst are effective and assure reductive degradation of TBBPA.