Open AccessImmobilisation of TiO 2 films on activated carbon fibres by a hydrothermal method for photocatalytic degradation of toluene
Author(s) -
Liang Peng,
Wei Aifang,
Zhang Yaqing,
Wu Jiafeng,
Zhang Xiwang,
Li Shufang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2016.0171
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , hydrothermal circulation , anatase , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , crystallinity , chemical engineering , toluene , hydrothermal synthesis , carbon fibers , composite number , composite material , chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , engineering
To improve the degradation efficiency of TiO 2 for low concentrations of volatile organic compounds, TiO 2 loaded on activated carbon fibres (ACF) was prepared by an impregnation–hydrothermal method. The crystal structure, surface area, dispersion, optical absorption properties, and chemical composition of the TiO 2 /ACF composite materials were characterised by X‐ray diffraction, Brunauer−Emmett−Teller analysis, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The influence of the hydrothermal temperature, illumination time, space velocity, and light intensity on the photocatalytic activities of the TiO 2 /ACF composite materials was investigated with toluene as a model pollutant. The results showed that the phase of TiO 2 was anatase, which was dispersed as a thin film on the ACF surface. The crystallinity, dispersion, UV absorption, and hydroxyl group content of TiO 2 increased with an increase of hydrothermal temperature, whereas the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 /ACF was maximised when the hydrothermal temperature was 180°C. Increases in illumination time, space velocity, and light intensity were beneficial for regeneration of the composite materials. However, the energy efficiency decreased with increased light intensity. The degradation efficiency of toluene reached 40% with reaction conditions of illumination time: 3 h, space velocity: 1400 h −1 , and light intensity: 32 W. This degradation efficiency decreased 3.3% after recycling five times.