Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions
Published on: October 5, 2019
Photocatalytic hydrogen driven (Pd-C\UV\H2) advanced reduction process (ARP) for dechlorination and degradation of
Bakhtiar Ali Samejo1, Ar M Fonlon2, John M Herbert2
1Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, G. Narutowicza St. 11/12, Gdansk, Poland.
Abstract:
This paper present a novel investigation of the dechlorination and degradation of chlorotoluron (CHL) a persistent phenylurea herbicide type contaminant by the highly effective advanced reduction process (ARP), based on photocatalytic activation of hydrogen gas (H2) by UV light and palladium on activated carbon (Pd-C) catalyst under aqueous conditions. Importantly, developed system is based on entirely new degradation mechanism which is much more effective comparing to typical UV-based or catalytic hydrogenation processes. The developed process is dedicated to wastewater treatment applications. This approach achieved >99.4% CHL reduction and >94.1% dechlorination at ambient temperature within 10 min. The degradation process followed a pseudo first order kinetics with kobs of 0.1196 min-1. Studies on degradation mechanism revealed contribution of generated hydrogen radicals (H•) and auxiliary role of hydrated electrons (eaq-). The reaction system was found to be very effective also in presence of inorganic anions. Performed studies proved stability of the performance over 5 cycles using same batch of catalyst. This part of the studies confirmed full applicability of the method for industrial practice. Operational costs of the treatment were estimated around 31.42$/m3.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...
Catalysis
Catalysis
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.

