Turbidimetric method for evaluation of photocatalytic activities of suspended fine particles

rbidimetric method for evaluation of photocatalytic activities of suspended fine particles Short Report (3892) Total Article Views Authors: Hideki Aoyagi, Katsumi Yabusaki Published Date October 2010 Volume 2010:3 Pages 85 - 90 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NSA.S13327 Hideki Aoyagi1, Katsumi Yabusaki2 1Life Science and Bioengineering, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; 2Electronics and Optics Research Laboratory, Kowa Ltd, Chofugaoka, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan Abstract: A spectrophotometer with special cuvette was developed for evaluating the photocatalytic activities of suspended fine particles. The spectrophotometer can continuously irradiate UV light using LED to the sample solution, and changes in the absorbance at 664 nm during photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) were monitored continuously. From the onset of MB degradation, the absorbance decreased and reached a steady value at the end of the reaction. This process was expressed by first order kinetics and the photocatalytic activities of various fine particles could be evaluated quantitatively based on the reaction rate constant (k). The effect of photocatalysis using various TiO2 fine particles on the physiological activities of Euglena gracilis was related with k value.