Enhanced Photocatalytic Activation of Peroxymonosulfate Using Ag-TiO2/SiO2 Monolith for Phenol Degradation
摘要
Ag-TiO2/SiO2 monolith photocatalyst was synthesized by a simple sol-gel and dip-coating method with AgNO3 as Ag source, titanium n-butoxide and tetraethoxysilane as Si source. Photocatalytic activities of the synthesized Ag-TiO2/SiO2 monolith were evaluated through phenol degradation under UVA light irradiations. EDX-mapping verified that the Ag nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the photocatalyst and evenly deposited on the surface of TiO2/SiO2. The surface and cross-sectional SEM images of the monolith material confirmed the successful coating of Ag(3%)-TiO2/ SiO2 catalyst on the monolith surface (Ag(3%)-TS05/S/M). The study showed that the peroxymonosulfate (PMS)/Ag-TiO2/SiO2 monolith with appropriate Ag doping exhibited excellent activity under UVA light irradiation, was easy to separate from contaminants, and had good reusability. After four rounds of recycling, about 92% of the phenol was removed within. 240 min by the PMS/Ag(3%)-TiO2/SiO2 monolith system with a sulfate radical as the main oxidation species. A new bond between SiO2 and TiO2 was formed to prevent TiO2 removal during wastewater treatment. The performance of our Ag-TiO2/SiO2 monolith with the presence of PMS makes it highly suitable for practical application in treating wastewater contaminated with phenol pollutants.