IJERT-Preparation and Characterization of Different Tio2-Modified Montmorillonite Meso-Microporous Materials, with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity (original) (raw)

2015, International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology (IJERT)

https://www.ijert.org/preparation-and-characterization-of-different-tio2-modified-montmorillonite-meso-microporous-materials-with-enhanced-photocatalytic-activity https://www.ijert.org/research/preparation-and-characterization-of-different-tio2-modified-montmorillonite-meso-microporous-materials-with-enhanced-photocatalytic-activity-IJERTV4IS090260.pdf A set of TiO2-modified montmorillonite meso-microporous materials, as photocatalysts, was successfully prepared in different ways and evaluated by the photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in water, since it is a recalcitrant organic pollutant. The effects of photocatalysts' preparation methods on their textural, structural and catalytic properties were tested. To understand the relationship between the photocatalysts structure and performance, these were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), specific surface area and porosity measurements. A high specific surface area (up to 231 m 2 /g), a meso-microporous structure and a high stability have been found for the TiCl4-M and TiCl3-M prepared photocatalysts. In addition, to improve the 4-NP degradation, various parameters' effect was studied such as the type of the photocatalyst, its amount loading, the pH of the 4-NP solution and the initial 4-NP concentration. Then, the 4-NP degradation rate has reached 99% only when Anatase Titanium dioxide was supported on montmorillonite, at pH=5, with 0.2 g/100 mL of photocatalyst (TiCl4-M or TiCl3-M) amount and a 4-NP concentration equal to 20 mg.L-1 .