The Properties and Activity of TiO2/beta‐SiC Nanocomposites in Organic Dyes Photodegradation
Katarzyna Pstrowskaa✉, Bartłomiej M. Szyjaa, Hanna Czapor‐Irzabekb, Adam Kiersnowskic d, Jerzy Walendziewskia
- aDivision of Fuels Chemistry and Technology Faculty of Chemistry Wrocław University of Science and Technology Wrocław Poland
- bLaboratory of Elemental Analysis and Structural Research Faculty of Pharmacy Wrocław Medical University Wrocław Poland
- cPolymer Engineering &
- dTechnology Division Faculty of Chemistry Wroclaw University of Science and Technology Wrocław Poland
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Abstract The TiO2/beta‐SiC nanocomposites containing 0–25 wt. % of beta‐SiC were synthesized by the sol‐gel method and tested in the photodegradation of methylene blue and methyl orange water solutions. With the increase in SiC content, only a slight decrease in energy band gap was observed (3.19–3.12 eV), together with significant increase in the surface area of the catalysts (42.7–80.4 m2 g−1). In the synthesized material, the anatase phase of TiO2 was present in the form of small agglomerates resulting from the mechanical mixing process. In the process conditions (catalyst concentration 0.5 g L−1, initial dye concentration 100 ppm, light source 100 W UV‐Vis lamp), we have observed no signs of catalyst deactivation. The significantly higher photodegradation activity of methylene blue than methyl orange can be attributed to the preferable pH of the solution compared to pHPZC and the cationic character of the first dye. In case of methyl orange, pH process conditions substantially limit the contact of the catalyst with the dye, as negatively charged surface of the catalysts repels the dissociated anionic dye molecules.