Photocatalytic activity of bauxite-tailings supported nano-TiO₂

Abstract

TiO₂/bauxite-tailings (TiO₂/BTs) composites were prepared via a chemical liquid deposition method and characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption analysis. The photocatalytic performance of TiO₂/BTs composites was evaluated with UV-Vis spectrophotometer following the changes of phenol concentration under different illumination time. Effects of the calcination temperature, the pH and the cycles on the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂/BTs composites were investigated. The composites calcined at 500 and 600 °C exhibit the best photocatalytic performance, and the phenol degradation ratios reacting for 40 and 160 min reach 35% and 78% respectively under the same conditions, higher than those of 29% and 76% of the Degussa P25(TiO₂). The ability of TiO₂/BTs₅₀₀ (BTs₅₀₀ represents bauxite-tailings calcined at 500 °C) composites to degrade phenol increases with decreasing pH.

Keywords

TiO₂ / bauxite-tailings / phenol / photocatalytic activity

References

[1] SongH.-y., JiangH.-f., LiuX.-q., MengG.-yao.. Nano TiO₂ deposited on crude mineral and the photoactivity to the degradation of chloroform [J]. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2006, 2(2): 60-65

[2] YuH. G., LeeS. C., AoC. H., YuJ. G.. Low-temperature fabrication and photocatalytic activity of clustered TiO₂ particles formed on glass fibers [J]. Journal of Crystal Growth, 2005, 280(3/4): 612-619

[3] SatoY., UebayashiA., ItoN., KamiyamaT., ShigesatoY.. High rate deposition of photocatalytic TiO₂ films by dc magnetron sputtering using a TiO_2−x target [J]. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films, 2008, 26(4): 903-907

[4] BessergenevV. G., PereiraR. J. F., MateusM. C., KhmelinskiiI. V., VasconcelosD. A.. Study of physical and photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide thin films prepared from complex precursors by chemical vapour deposition [J]. Thin Solid Films, 2006, 503(1/2): 29-39

[5] SugiyamaO., OkuyaM., KanekoS.. Photocatalytic ability of TiO₂ porous film prepared by modified spray pyrolysis deposition technique [J]. Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, 2009, 117: 203-207

[6] SunS.-m., JiangY.-s., YuL.-x., LiF.-f., YangZ.-w., HouT.-y., HuD.-q., XiaM.-sheng.. Enhanced photo-catalytic activity of microwave-treated TiO₂ pillared montmorillonite [J]. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2006, 98(2/3): 377-381

[7] WanL., LiJ. F., FengJ. Y., SunW., MaoZ. Q.. Improved optical response and photocatalysis for N-doped titanium oxide (TiO₂) films prepared by oxidation of TiN [J]. Applied Surface Science, 2007, 253(10): 4764-4767

[8] GambhireA. B., LandeM. K., MandaleA. B., PatilK. R., ArbadB. R.. Photocatalytic activity and characterization of sol-gel-derived Cr(III)-doped TiO₂-coated active carbon composites [J]. Philosophical Magazine, 2008, 88(5): 767-779

[9] IdaJ., YoshikawaT., MatsuyamaT., YamamotoH.. TiO₂ coating on silica particles by deposition of sol-gel-derived nanoparticles [J]. Advanced Powder Technology, 2007, 18(3): 329-348

[10] FujinoT., HattoriT.. Activation of photocatalytic coatings applied on aluminum oxidation film [J]. Journal of Japan Institute of Light Metals, 2006, 56(4): 197-202

[11] ReddyJ. K., DurgakumariV., SubrahmanyamM., SreedharB.. Structure and photocatalytic activity studies of TiO₂-supported over Ce-modified Al-MCM-41 [J]. Materials Research Bulletin, 2009, 44(7): 1540-1546

[12] YuanR.-s., GuanR.-b., ZhengJ.-tang.. Effect of the pore size of TiO₂-loaded activated carbon fiber on its photocatalytic activity [J]. Scripta Materialia, 2005, 52(12): 1329-1334

[13] KárolyM., AndrásF., ImreD., IstvánI., AndrásD.. TiO₂-based photocatalytic degradation of 2-chlorophenol adsorbed on hydrophobic clay [J]. Environmental Science and Technology, 2002, 36(16): 3618-3624

[14] HiroshiY., ShiqeoH., ShojiY.. Photocatalytic activities of microcrystalline TiO₂ incorporated in sheet silicates of clay [J]. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1989, 93(12): 4833-4837

[15] KanekoT., ShimotaumaH., KajikawaM., HatamachiT., KodamaT., KitayamaY.. Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of titania pillared clays [J]. J Porous Mater, 2001, 8(4): 295-301

[16] MogyorósiK., DékányI., FendlerJ. H.. Preparation and characterization of clay mineral intercalated titanium dioxide nanoparticles [J]. Langmuir, 2003, 19(7): 2938-2946

[17] KunR., MogyorósiK., DékányI.. Synthesis and structural and photocatalytic properties of TiO₂/montmorillonite nanocomposites [J]. Applied Clay Science, 2006, 32(1/2): 99-110

[18] FassierM., ChouardN., PeyratoutC. S., SmithD. S., RieglerH., KurthD. G., DucroquetzC., BruneauxM. A.. Photocatalytic activity of oxide coatings on fired clay substrates [J]. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2009, 29(4): 565-570

[19] KibanovaD., TrejoM., DestaillatsH., CerviniS. J.. Synthesis of hectorite-TiO₂ and kaolinite-TiO₂ nanocomposites with photocatalytic activity for the degradation of model air pollutants [J]. Applied Clay Science, 2009, 42(3/4): 563-568

[20] WangY.-h., LanY., HuY.-hua.. Adsorption mechanisms of Cr(VI) on the modified bauxite tailings [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2008, 21(12/14): 913-917

[21] YangB.-c., GaoF., LiuX.-y., ZhangLi.. Effect of oxygen partial pressure on microstructure and absorption characteristics of TiO₂ thin films [J]. J Cent South Univ Technol: Science and Technology, 2008, 39(1): 64-68

[22] ZhangX.-w., WangY.-z., LiG.-ting.. Effect of operating parameters on microwave assisted photocatalytic degradation of azo dye X-3B with grain TiO₂ catalyst [J]. Journal of Molecular Calalysis A: Chemical, 2005, 237(1/2): 199-205

[23] TanalaK., PadermpoleK., HisanagaT.. Photocatalytic degradation of commercial azo dyes [J]. Water Res, 2000, 34(1): 327-333