Use of Novel Cardanol-Porphyrin Hybrids and Their TiO2-Based Composites for the Photodegradation of 4-Nitrophenol in Water

• Main Authors: Giuseppe Mele, Selma Elaine Mazzetto, Jun Li, Roberta Del Sole, Iolanda Pio, Giuseppe Vasapollo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2011-07-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: cardanol; porphyrins; metalloporphyrins; heterogeneous photocatalysis; 4-nitrophenol; porphyrin-TiO2 photocatalysts
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/7/5769/

Cardanol, a well known hazardous byproduct of the cashew industry, has been used as starting material for the synthesis of useful differently substituted “cardanol-based” porphyrins and their zinc(II), copper(II), cobalt(II) and Fe(III) complexes. Novel composites prepared by impregnation of polycrystalline TiO2 powder with an opportune amount of “cardanol-based” porphyrins, which act as sensitizers for the improvement of the photo-catalytic activity of the bare TiO2, have been used in the photodegradation in water of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), which is a toxic and bio-refractory pollutant, dangerous for ecosystems and human health.