Effect of Nano-TiO2 Immobilized on Activated Carbon, Zeolite Y and ZSM-5 on the Removal of Styrene Vapors from Polluted Air

TiO2 is a very well-known and well-researched material due to the stability of its chemical structure, biocompatibility, and its physical, optical and electrical properties. In this study, the synergistic effect of nano-TiO2 immobilized on activated carbon, zeolite Y and ZSM-5 on the removal of styrene vapors from polluted air was investigated. The prepared catalysts were characterized by SEM, BET and XRD analysis. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of AC, ZSM-5 and Y zeolite for the degradation of the styrene was attributed to the synergistic effect of TiO2. Photodegradation experiments were carried out at ambient temperature, different styrene concentrations (20, 100 and 300 ppm) and inflow of 0.5 l/min. The results indicate that adding TiO2 to the adsorbents increased the removal efficiency of styrene and among these catalysts; AC-TiO2 had a better performance. The high catalytic activity of AC-TiO2 should be attributed to the interaction between AC and TiO2, which provides the appropriate ability to adsorb reactants by AC and catalytic oxidation of styrene by TiO2. Better performances with this promising material – TiO2 deposited onto AC, ZSM-5 and Y zeolite – compared with bare TiO2 could be explained by the vicinity of photocatalytic and AC, ZSM-5 and Y zeolite adsorption sites. According to the results obtained from the adsorption capacity and the breakthrough and removal efficiency of catalysts, it can be concluded that coated adsorbents (AC, ZSM-5 and Y zeolite) with TiO2 can enhance the removal efficiency of styrene.