Preparation, characterization and application of titanium dioxide/activated carbon composite in 2-chlorophenol removal

Abstract

TiO₂/AC composite nanoparticles in this work were prepared from alkoxide solution via sol-gel method. TiO₂/AC composite with different molar ratios (1:0, 1:10, 1:33, 1:50, 1:70, and 1:100) were determined. It was found that the ratios of TiO2: AC at 1:0 and 1:10 have anatase as predominant phase, while rutile phase appeared at ratio 1:33. Other types of TiO₂, TiO₂/O₂ and TiO₂/P-25 were also investigated in this work as well. In the adsorption isotherm part, it was found that TiO₂/O₂ was followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm, while TiO₂/AC/N₂ and TiO₂/N₂ were followed Freundlich adsorption isotherm. In photocatalytic process, the 2-chlorophenol removal efficiency can be ordered as TiO₂/AC/N₂ > TiO₂/N₂ > TiO₂/O₂ > TiO₂/P-25. In the determination of effects of different calcination temperature (500ºC, 800ºC, 1100ºC, and 1300ºC) on the properties of TiO₂/AC. It was found that the calcinations temperature at 500ºC provided the most appropriate properties of TiO₂/AC for 2-chlorophenol removal. In a study of 2-chlorophenol degradation using TOC and GC/MS, no intermediates were detected. As the TOC appeared during the degradation process solely come from 2-chlorophenol, it can be concluded that the mineralization of 2-chlorophenol is achievable under TiO₂/AC process.