Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenylmercaptotetrazole in Aqeous TiO₂ Suspensions

The photodegradation of phenylmercaptotetrazole（PMT） was studied in this paper. It was found that PMT could be photodegradated under UV-illumination in aqueous titanium dioxide （TiO₂） suspensions. The reaction was importantly influenced by pH. Some anions appearing in photographic developer, such as Br^-,S₂O₃^-2,and EDTA^-2 etc,inhibited the photodegradation. The mechanism and kinetics of PMT photodegradation ware discussed. As the intermediates,the phenyl ring could be easily-oxidized into carbon dioxide and water,to further photocatalytic oxidation of the tetrazole ring,however, was very difficult.