Photocatalytic Phenol Degradation by Silica-Modified Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely applied as a photocatalyst for wastewater treatment due to its high photocatalytic activity and it can remove various harmful organic pollutants effectively. Under heated system, however, TiO2 is prone agglomeration that decrease abilities photocatalyst. In order overcome the increase thermal resistance, addition of silica (SiO2) supporting material proposed in this research. Silica or silicon be extracted from natural resources such beach sand. Here, we report application composite TiO2/SiO2 phenolic compounds wastewater. The was synthesized by adding SiO2 sand onto through impregnation methods. results X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed present anatase phase. highest crystallinity obtained ratios 7:1. SEM shape particles spherical. Further characterizations were conducted using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, particle size analyzer (PSA). By optimized condition, 96.05% phenol degraded TiO2/SiO2, under UV irradiation 120 min. efficiency 3.5 times better than commercial P25 Langmuir–Hinshelwood first-order kinetic model.