The photodegradation of n-hexacosane (n- C26H54) by sensitized zinc oxide was
investigated. The zinc oxide was modified by different weight of crystal violet (0.1,
0.2, 0-3, 0-4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8) gm using a Pyrex state reactor 25 cm3 irradiated
with modified immersion halogenated lamp ( 400 -700 ) nm. at 298 K with air flow.
The photodegradation of n-hexacosane using sensitized ZnO, which is achieved by
the irradiation of suspended solution consists of 0.01 mole n-hexacosane dissolved in
25 cm3 of n-nonane with 0.12 gm of sensitized ZnO by visible light from external
source through a side window of quartz inside a Pyrex photo reaction cell of 25 cm3
at 298 K.
Several experiments were carried out at various conditions to attain the best
degradation of n-hexacosane using sensitized ZnO. These experiments include the
amount of dye on fixed mass of ZnO, the amount of sensitized ZnO, the size of its
particles, the flow rate of air flow in the reaction cell, the temperature effects and the
time of irradiation. The main photolytic products of n-hexacosane photodegradation
processes were heptane, octane, nonane, dodecane and tetradecane.
Gas chromatographic using FID and IR spectrophotometric techniques were used to
identify the photocalalytic degradation products. Also the sensitized ZnO and dye
were studied by using X-Ray Diffract ion spectrometric technique.
According to the obtained results a reaction mechanism of the photodegradation
processes of n-hexacosane by sensitized ZnO was suggested.