We compared the plausible reaction mechanism and quantitative efficiency of highly self-organized TiO₂ nanotube (ntTiO₂) film with TiO₂ powder. Film was fabricated by electrochemical potentiostatic anodization of titanium thin film in an ethylene-glycol electrolyte solution containing 0.3 wt% NH₄F and 2 vol% deionized water. Nanotubes with a pore size of 80-100 nm were formed by anodization at 60 V for 3 h. Humic acid (HA) was degraded through photocatalytic degradation using the ntTiO₂ film. Pseudo first-order rate constants for 0.3 g of ntTiO₂, 0.3 g TiO₂ powder, and 1 g TiO₂ powder were 0.081 min⁻¹, 0.003 min⁻¹, and 0.044 min⁻¹, respectively. HA adsorption on the ntTiO₂ film was minimal while adsorption on the TiO₂ powder was about 20% based on thermogravimetric analysis. Approximately five-fold more normalized OH radicals were generated by the ntTiO₂ film than the TiO₂ powder. These quantitative findings explain why ntTiO₂ film showed superior photocatalytic performance to TiO₂ powder.

Keywords: TiO₂ nanotubes;Electrostatic anodization;Humic acid;Adsorption effect;Terephthalic acid;