2007 Volume 21 Pages 97-102
The photocatalytic activity of hydroxyapatite(HAp) and its activation mechanism were studied. The author demonstrated that the oxidative decomposition of the odor compounds such as methyl mercaptane(MM) and dimethyl sulfide(DMS) occurred under UV(254nm) irradiation when HAp was employed after heat treatment at 200°C. The XPS, FT-IR and ESR characterizations revealed that UV irradiation modified the PO4 groups on the HAp surface, and generated a trapped electron and active O2• – species. These observations strongly suggested that the oxygen vacancy was produced by UV irradiation. The structural water in HAp was believed to promote the formation of the trapped electron. These results indicate that the HAp can be considered a promising material as a photo-induced catalyst in environmental technology.
