Solar light induced degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) using TiO2: effects of solar light intensity and seasonal variations.

The feasibility of the trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation using solar light was investigated. With both solar light and TiO2 present, TCE was more effectively degraded than either with solar light or TiO2 alone. The rate of photocatalytic degradation under a clear sky was about five and 18 times higher than that of photocatalytic degradation under cloudy and thick cloudy skies, respectively. The optimization of the degradation rates was strongly dependent on the solar light intensity. All experimental data were fit to a first-order rate equation. Summer showed faster degradation rate than winter. From the mass balance, this study showed that over 80% of chloride in clear and partly cloudy skies was mineralized from TCE degradation.