Photocatalytic dehydrogenation of isopropanol on Pt/TiO2 catalysts

Isopropanol which has been proposed as a ''sacrificial'' compound for the photodissociation of water in the presence of titania catalyst is photodehydrogenated into acetone on metal/TiO/sub 2/ catalysts. In the absence or in the presence of water vapor the amount of hydrogen produced is always equal to the amount of acetone. On the Pt/TiO/sub 2/ catalysts used, the water-gas shift reaction is of a thermal nature and CO does not seem either to be a ''sacrificial'' compound. The mechanism of photodehydrogenation of isopropanol on Pt/TiO/sub 2/ catalysts is studied and the influence of the dispersion of Pt is discussed. 41 refs., 4 figs., 9 tabs.