Notice of RetractionPhotocatalytic Degradation of Dimethyl Phthalate in Aqueous TiO2 Suspensions: Kinetic Model and Initial Degradation Pathways

Notice of Retraction

After careful and considered review of the content of this paper by a duly constituted expert committee, this paper has been found to be in violation of IEEE´s Publication Principles.

We hereby retract the content of this paper. Reasonable effort should be made to remove all past references to this paper.

The presenting author of this paper has the option to appeal this decision by contacting TPII@ieee.org.

TiO₂ Photocatalytic degradation, as a ´Advanced Oxidation Technologies´ (AOTs), has raised great interests of many researchers. Despite notable achievements in this domain, there are relatively few in depth studies of the kinetics of the heterogeneous photocatalysis. In many studies, the Langmuir-Hinshehvood (L-H) model is usually accepted. Beyond the assumption of L-H model assuming a slow rate-determining step and rapid adsorption equilibrium, a modified L-H model was proposed based on the steady status assumption. The modified L-H model may explain the changes of adsorption constant Ks with the light intensity. The validity of modified L-H model was also proved quite fitting with the experimental results of photocatalytic degradation of endocrine disrupting chemical dimethyl phthalate (DMP). Moreover, the degradation mechanism of DMP was investigated. A initial degradation route was proposed which are based on the intermediates identified by GC-MS. The study indicated that the attack of hydroxyl radicals leads to the formation of hydroxyl photoproducts (hydroxylated on the aromatic ring). 4-DMHP is the main intermediate products. At the same time, the computer simulation was carried out. The results suggest that C² bears the highest FED² which should be the starting position of degradation route. It is in consistency with the experimental conclusion.