Enhancement of photocatalytic degradation of furfural and acetophenone in water media using nano-TiO 2 -SiO 2 deposited on cementitious materials

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 74; no. 7; p. 1689
• Main Authors: Soltan, Sahar, Jafari, Hoda, Afshar, Shahrara, Zabihi, Omid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Acetophenones - chemistry; Catalysis; Furaldehyde - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Silicon Dioxide - chemistry; Titanium - chemistry; Ultraviolet Rays; Waste Water; Water - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 0273-1223

In the present study, silicon dioxide (SiO ) nanoparticles were loaded to titanium dioxide (TiO ) nano-particles by sol-gel method to make a high porosity photocatalyst nano-hybrid. These photocatalysts were synthesized using titanium tetrachloride and tetraethyl orthosilicate as titanium and silicon sources, respectively, and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope methods. Subsequently, the optimizations of the component and operation conditions were investigated. Then, nano-sized TiO and TiO -SiO were supported on concrete bricks by the dip coating process. The photocatalytic activity of nano photocatalysts under UV irradiation was examined by studying the decomposition of aqueous solutions of furfural and acetophenone (10 mg/L) as model of organic pollutants to CO and H O at room temperature. A decrease in the concentration of these pollutants was assayed by using UV-visible absorption, gas chromatography technique, and chemical oxygen demand. The removal of these pollutants from water using the concrete-supported photocatalysts under UV irradiation was performed with a greater efficiency, which does not require an additional separation stage to recover the catalyst. Therefore, it would be applicable to use in industrial wastewater treatment at room temperature and atmospheric pressure within the optimized pH range.