Confirmation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) generated in the presence of TiO2 supported on AC under microwave irradiation.

In order to study the degradation mechanism of technology of microwave (MW) combined with TiO2 supported on activated carbon (TiO2/AC), the reactive oxygen species (ROS) was explored through oxidation of 1,5-diphenyl carbazide (DPCI) to 1,5-diphenyl carbazone (DPCO). Furthermore, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), Mannitol (MT) and Vitamin C (VC) were used as radical scavengers to confirm the generation of the hydroxyl radicals ((•)OH). In addition, the influence of some parameters such as TiO2 mass ratio content, irradiation time, material dose, DPCI concentration and MW power on the determination of (•)OH were examined. The results showed that the (•)OH could be generated under MW combined with loaded TiO2/AC. Also, anatase TiO2/AC can generate more (•)OH radicals than rutile TiO2/AC under MW irradiation. This work would provide new mechanistic insights on the enhanced degradation effect of organic pollutants in water using the supported TiO2/AC coupled with MW technology.