Photosensitizer Using Visible Light

An Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment Utilizing an Affordable Photocatalytic Reactor

Abstract

In this experiment, the visible light reactive photosensitizer (PS) derived from chlorophyllin sodium copper salt has been synthesized via a simple synthetic route. The enhanced photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of the pharmaceutical compound Diclofenac Potassium available as Voltfast sachets under visible light irradiation was demonstrated by comparing the photocatalytic decomposition of Diclofenac Potassium in the presence and absence of the new synthesized visible light photosensitizer under the same photocatalytic conditions. Based on the experimental results, higher activity was achieved for the sample composed of the new synthesized visible light photosensitizer. The photosensitized sample using the new derivative of chlorophyllin sodium copper salt exhibited approximately 21 times higher rate when compared with that of Chlorophyllin sodium copper salt sample. This photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the enhanced visible light harvesting of the new derivative of Chlorophyllin sodium copper salt.