Hydroxyl radicals in microwave photocatalysis. Enhanced formation of OH radicals probed by ESR techniques in microwave-assisted photocatalysis in aqueous TiO2 dispersions

Formation of OH radicals during TiO2 photocatalyzed oxidations driven by simultaneous UV and microwave radiation was probed by the electron spin resonance technique employing a novel setup in which the ESR sample (contained the DMPO spin-trap agent and P-25 TiO2 or pure anatase or pure rutile in aqueous media) could be irradiated by both UV light and microwave radiation; the microwave generator was coupled through an N connector to the ESR sample cavity and to a photoreactor in which phenol was photooxidized by simultaneous irradiation with UV light and microwaves to assess whether the photooxidative process correlated with the concentration of OH radicals formed.