Monitoring the TiO2-photocatalyzed destruction of aqueous environmental contaminants at parts-per-trillion levels using membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS).

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) was used to directly monitor the TiO2/UV-photocatalyzed destruction of acetophenone, toluene, and chloroform in H2O at ppm to pptr concentrations. The instrument response time was sufficiently rapid for these environmental contaminants (1-6min) that "real-time" monitoring of their degradation was possible. This method was used to follow the loss of toluene at pptr levels and the concomitant formation of one of its primary photo-oxidation intermediates, methylphenol. These results illustrate the potential use of MIMS as a sensitive on-line measurement technique for monitoring photocatalytic destruction of trace organic contaminants in water at environmentally relevant levels.