Photocatalytic Mineralization of Acetic Acid in Aqueous Suspension of Metal-loaded Cerium(IV) Oxide under Irradiation of Visible Light

Abstract Photocatalytic activity of cerium(IV) oxide (CeO2) particles in decomposition of acetic acid in aqueous suspension was examined under irradiation of visible light. Acetic acid was decomposed to carbon dioxide (CO2) and the rate of CO2 formation was increased by loading of 0.1 wt % cocatalysts (Pt, Au, Rh, Ru, Pd, Ag, Cu, and Ir) on CeO2 by photodeposition. Cocatalysts showed almost the same levels of enhancement of CO2 evolution, i.e., Ag/CeO2 and Cu/CeO2 exhibited rates similar to that of Pt/CeO2. The action spectrum revealed that decomposition of acetic acid was induced by photoabsorption of CeO2.