ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the application of n-Titanium dioxide (TiO2) photoassisted oxidation to cleaning up oil spills. In the presence of an excess of organic material, the quantum efficiency thus depends on the rate of electron stripping by O2 from the semiconductor particles. The oxygen-reduction reaction can be slow and thus limit the quantum efficiency. The chapter also considers the rate and efficiency of catalytic photoassisted oxidation of strongly Ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing crude oil on water, as well as the catalytic photoassisted oxidation of 3-octanol on water. In the UV, 3-octanol is transparent and serves as a model aliphatic compound. The chapter shows that TiO2-coated, buoyant ceramic microspheres photoassist oxidation of both aliphatic and aromatic compounds. To estimate the theoretical photon flux-limited rate of dissolution of oil on water through its catalytic photoassisted oxidation, the authors assume that one carbon in six needs to be oxidized. Beads made by either process had about the same photoactivity.
