LAUSR

Abstract In (1) and Zn (2) tetrapyrrole phthalocyanines (Pcs) were employed for the photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol in basic media. The support system used for the photocatalysts (complexes 1 and 2) were electrospun fibres composed of polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Complexes 1 and 2 were either embedded in PAN by electrospinning a solution containing PAN and the Pcs or bare PAN fibres that were immersed in complexes 1 and 2, and then dried. It was observed that the immersed fibres showed higher singlet oxygen quantum yields values than the embedded fibres. The embedded fibres (1 and 2) were employed in the degradation of 4-chlorophenol and showed degradation rates of 28.1% and 26.3% respectively at 0.20 M 4-chlorophenol.