Abstract This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) using Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles. TiO₂, when activated by UV light, generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of breaking down harmful organic pollutants. The experiments were conducted to measure the efficiency of TiO₂ in removing specific POPs, including DDT and PCBs from contaminated water samples. Results demonstrated a high degradation rate for DDT (90% removal within 2 hours) and a moderate degradation rate for PCBs (65% removal within the same period). This paper discusses the photocatalytic mechanism, challenges such as UV activation, and future directions for improving TiO₂ efficiency under natural light conditions. Further advancements in photocatalytic materials, including doped catalysts and visible-light-active composites, are crucial to overcome the limitations of rapid charge recombination and inefficient solar utilization observed with pristine TiO₂ (Rasool et al., 2025). Addressing these limitations necessitates exploring alternative photocatalytic systems, such as advanced oxidation processes, which exhibit enhanced degradation capabilities for POPs (Gaur et al., 2022, p. 1). These advanced oxidation technologies, particularly photocatalysis using nanocatalysts, offer a promising avenue for the cost-effective and efficient remediation of POPs due to their ability to mineralize recalcitrant compounds and minimize secondary waste generation (Gaur et al., 2022, p. 2; Nguyen et al., 2020; Rasool et al., 2025).
Nagesh Gajanan Kele (Thu,) studied this question.