High photocatalytic degradation activity of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC)―vitamin C (VC)―TiO2 nano-composite film

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 178; no. 1-3; pp. 152 - 156
• Main Authors: Yang, Changjun, Gong, Chuqing, Peng, Tianyou, Deng, Kejian, Zan, Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 15.06.2010
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Ascorbic Acid - chemistry; Ascorbic Acid - radiation effects; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Degradation; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Photocatalysis; Photochemistry; Pollution; Polyvinyl Chloride - chemistry; Polyvinyl Chloride - radiation effects; Polyvinyl chlorides; Reactors; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Titanium - chemistry; Titanium - radiation effects; Titanium dioxide; Ultraviolet Rays; X-Ray Diffraction; Scanning electron microscopy; Pollutant behavior; Photocatalysis; Vitamin; X ray diffraction; Ultraviolet radiation; Solid-phase photocatalytic degradation; Surveillance; Chlorides; Vitamin C; Nanocomposite; Polyvinyl chloride; Plastics; Titanium oxide; Charge transfer; Catalyst; Nano-TiO; Photochemical degradation
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.01.056

A novel photodegradable polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-vitamin C (VC)-TiO(2) nano-composite film was prepared by embedding VC modified nano-TiO(2) photocatalyst into the commercial PVC plastic. The solid-phase photocatalytic degradation behavior of PVC-VC-TiO(2) nano-composite film under UV light irradiation was investigated and compared with those of the PVC-TiO(2) film and the pure PVC film, with the aid of UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), weight loss monitoring, and X-ray diffraction spectra (XRD). The results show that PVC-VC-TiO(2) nano-composite film has a high photocatalytic activity; the photocatalytic degradation rate of it is two times higher than that of PVC-TiO(2) film and fifteen times higher than that of pure PVC film. The optimal mass ratio of VC to TiO(2) is found to be 0.5. The mechanism of enhancing photocatalytic activity is attributed to the formation of a Ti(IV)-VC charge-transfer complex with five-member chelate ring structure and a rapid photogenerated charge separation is thus achieved.