Photodegradation Study of Tetradecane in Hexane Solvent in the Presence of TiO2

Abstract

The normal tetradecane (n-C14) is the dominant molecule in Iraqi crude oil ,
therefore, solution of n-C14 in hexane as a solvent was irradiated by light source
(Radium 125 W) using naked titanium dioxide TiO2 at different concentrations
(60 – 300 ppm).
The photocatalytic cell is made of Pyrex with quartz window its diameter (2
cm), and (9 cm) in length .Temperature was fixed at (298 – 300 K ) and rate flow of
air was 20 ml /mint .Gas chromatography was used for identification of the
photocatalytic products (n-C8 , n-C10 , n-C11, n-C12).
FT.IR Spectroscopy was also used for identification of carbonyl group, and Cintra 5
UV-Visible was used mainly for the analysis of products and study the kinetics of
reaction at 278 nm with observing the increasing of absorbance with time for
products. Mechanism have been suggested for this photochemical degradation of
tetradecane.