Photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene in the gas phase over TiO2 sol-gel films: Analysis of products

The gas phase photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was studied over two kinds of TiO2 as thin films prepared by the sol-gel process. Dichloroacetyl chloride (DCAC), phosgene and carbon monoxide were confirmed to be intermediates. The detection conditions of DCAC, a main but unstable intermediate, were investigated in different experimental conditions by using in situ FTIR measurement and gas chromatography. Reaction intermediates were different depending on the activity of the photocatalyst.