photocatalytic removal of methyl tert-butyl ether by c-n-tio2 nanoparticles from aqueous solution

Background: the elimination of methyl tert-butyl ether (mtbe) from water resources remains a main environmental concern. in the present study, photo-assissted process for removal of mtbe was examined in the solutions containing c-n-tio2 nanoparticles under uv irradiation in the batch mode. methods: the effects of operational factors such as ph, initial catalyst concentration, and initial mtbe concentration on mtbe removal was investigated. results: the optimum degradation condition for mtbe was obtained at ph 7, catalyst load of 100 mg/l, air flow rate = 0.1 l/min and c0 = 5 mg/l with 73 percent degradation of mtbe at 60 min. in addition, analytical profiles on mtbe removal were based on the first-order kinetics model. however, the removal rate decreased by increasing initial concentration of mtbe. conclusion: the findings showed that uv/c-n-tio2 system is an efficient method for mtbe degradation from aqueous solution.