Abstract
The aim of this study is the application of heterogeneous catalysts based on gold and iron in the photodegradation of organic pollutants. We have chosen two molecules with different structures and properties: malachite green and tannic acid. The Au/TiO2 photocatalyst is prepared by deposition precipitation using NaOH (DP) while the Au/Fe-TiO2 catalyst is prepared by impregnation with iron followed by deposition of Au. The obtained catalysts are characterized using: high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, N-2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, and UV-Visible in reflection diffuse (RD/UV-Vis). The photodegardation of organic pollutants is carried out by applying three types of irradiations: UVA, UVB and UVC. The results obtained show that the nature of the catalyst and the irradiations play a dominant role in the degradation and mineralization results. The theoretical calculations are carried out in order to explain the difference between the obtained results.