Turbidimetric method for evaluation of photocatalytic activities of suspended fine particles

Hideki Aoyagi1, Katsumi Yabusaki21Life 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, JapanAbstract: 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.Keywords: photocatalyst, fine nano sized particles, specialized spectrophotometer, Euglena gracilis, rate constant