Photochemical decomposition of pentafluoropropionic acid to fluoride ions with a water-soluble heteropolyacid photocatalyst

Hisao Hori, Yuko Takano, Kazuhide Koike, Shuzo Kutsuna, Hisahiro Einaga, Takashi Ibusuki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pentafluoropropionic acid (CF3CF2COOH; PFPA) was decomposed to F- and CO2 with a water-soluble homogeneous photocatalyst, H3PW12O40. This is the first example of a photocatalytic system for C-F bond cleavage in a perfluorinated acid compound having both CF3- and -CF2- units. The catalytic reaction proceeds in water at room temperature under irradiation with UV-Vis light in the presence of oxygen. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed no trace of environmentally undesirable species such as CF 4, which is often observed in the decomposition of perfluorinated compounds by extremely high energy techniques such as electron beam irradiation. In addition to F- ions, small amounts of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) were detected in the reaction solution. The proposed reaction mechanism involves redox reactions of PFPA and TFA with the catalyst.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)333-340
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume46
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 10 2003
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • Environmental Science(all)
  • Process Chemistry and Technology

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