Experimental Design and Optimization of Triclosan and 2.8-Diclorodibenzeno-p-dioxina Degradation by the Fe/Nb₂O₅/UV System

This study describes the experimental design and optimization of the photocatalytic reaction using the immobilized catalyst Fe/Nb₂O₅ in the degradation of Triclosan and 2.8-DCDD. The techniques employed to characterize the photocatalysts were: specific surface area, average pore volume, average pore diameter, photo-acoustic spectroscopy (PAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS). The reaction parameters studied were pH, catalyst concentration, catalyst calcination temperature, and nominal metallic charge. The results indicated that the immobilized Fe/Nb₂O₅ catalysts were efficient in the degradation of Triclosan and 2.8-dichlorodibenzene-p-dioxin. The catalysts with nominal metal loading of 1.5% Fe calcined at 873 K showed the highest constant reaction rate and the lowest half-life 0.069 min⁻¹ and 10.04 min. Tests in different matrices indicated that the photocatalytic reaction using aqueous solution containing Cl⁻ is faster when compared with the ultrapure water matrix.