The Open Environmental Engineering Journal

2009, 2 : 21-29
Published online 2009 May 15. DOI: 10.2174/1874829500902010021
Publisher ID: TOENVIEJ-2-21

Influence of Surface Properties of Activated Carbon on Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 in 4-chlorophenol Degradation

Juan Matos , Jean-Marc Chovelon , Tulynan Cordero and Corinne Ferronato
Photocatalysis, Energy and Environment Laboratory, Chemistry Centre, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research, 20632, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela.

ABSTRACT

This work shows the influence of specific surface area (BET) and surface pH of different activated carbons on the photocatalytic activity of UV-irradiated TiO2 in the 4-chlorophenol (4CP) photodegradation. Carbons were prepared from sawdust of Tabebuia Pentaphyla wood by physical activation with CO2 and by pyrolysis under N2 flow at temperatures from 450 up to 1000ºC during 1h Chemical activation was also performed by the impregnation of precursor with ZnCl2, H3PO4 and KOH at different concentrations, followed by activation under N2 flow at 450ºC by 1h. Comparison of apparent first-order rate constants between TiO2 against TiO2-AC indicate that TiO2 photoactivity is enhanced or inhibited as a function of AC properties and correlations with surface area and pHPZC were found suggesting that surface pH of carbons is the most important parameter that influences TiO2 activity in the 4CP photodegradation.

Keywords:

TiO2, Photoactivity, Activated carbon.