Kinetic study on the photocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid using ZnO catalyst

The photocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid was studied by a batch process using ZnO as the catalyst on irradiation with UV light. The effect of process parameters such as pH, catalyst loading and initial concentration of salicylic acid on the extent of degradation was investigated. The degradation of salicylic acid was found to be effective in the neutral pH range. The optimum catalyst loading was observed at 2.0 g/L. The process followed first order kinetics and the apparent rate constant decreased with increase in the initial concentration of salicylic acid. The mechanism for the degradation of salicylic acid could be explained on the basis of Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. The complete mineralization of salicylic acid was observed in the presence of ZnO photocatalyst. The ZnO was found to be quite stable and undergoes photocorrosion only to a negligible extent.