Polyethylene glycol (PEG) photodegradation was studied in water under UV irradiation in the presence of catalytic amount of TiO2 using hexaethylene glycol as a model compound. Full conversion was achieved… Click to show full abstract
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) photodegradation was studied in water under UV irradiation in the presence of catalytic amount of TiO2 using hexaethylene glycol as a model compound. Full conversion was achieved in 7 h with an average quantum yield around 1%. Formic acid was found to be the main intermediate and was slower to oxidize into CO2 (traces remains after 24 h). The other intermediates [lower PEG, oxidized PEG (formates, aldehydes and acids, acetic acid)] of the photodegradation have also been identified and quantified. A mechanism based on previous literature but also taking into account these new observations is proposed.Graphical Abstract
               
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