Photocatalytic decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by TiO2 in the presence of oxalic acid

Heterogeneous photocatalytic decomposition of perfluoroocatanoic acid (PFOA) by TiO(2) under 254 nm UV light was investigated. Adding oxalic acid as a hole-scavenger significantly accelerated PFOA decomposition under nitrogen atmosphere. Fluoride ion, formic acid and six shorter-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) bearing C(2)-C(7) were identified as intermediates. When using perchloric acid (HClO(4)) as a replacement of oxalic acid to maintain the same pH of the reaction solution, PFOA did not decomposition efficiently. Compared with oxalic acid, potassium iodide (KI, another hole-scavenger) also led to a slower PFOA decomposition, while the addition of an electron acceptor (potassium persulfate, K(2)S(2)O(8)) obviously inhibited PFOA decomposition. This suggested that oxalic acid played more than one role in PFOA decomposition rather than simply providing acidity and acting as a hole-scavenger. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements confirmed the existence of carboxyl anion radicals (CO(2)(-)) in the photocatalytic process, which was a result of the reaction between oxalic acid and photogenerated hole. These findings indicated that PFOA decomposition was primarily induced by CO(2)(-) radicals, although photogenerated electron was also conducive to PFOA decomposition. A possible mechanism for PFOA decomposition was proposed.