The Role of Colloidal Particles in the Photodegradation of Organic Compounds of Environmental Concern in Aquatic Systems

Aquatic components which can be active in the photochemically induced transformation of organic compounds include colloidal and sedimentary oxides and Sulfides, and organic colloids, either xenobiotic or naturally occurring. Particular attention is devoted to the degradation processes taking place at the semiconductor/water interface. The possible application of these photocatalytic degradation processes to water purification is outlined.