The effect of silver doping on photocatalytic properties of titania multilayer membranes

In this investigation an Ag doped titania multilayer membrane is successfully fabricated via the sol gel processing method. The doped membrane is characterized via X-ray Diffraction and N-2-sorption techniques and the photocatalytic properties of the membrane are investigated via methyl orange degradation. The properties included high surface area (101 m(2)/g), small pore size (3.1 nm), and active anatase crystal phase. The prepared titania membrane has a high photocatalytic activity and decomposes methyl orange by 50% after 9 h of UV irradiation. The prepared membrane can be applied in the development of efficient photocatalytic systems for the treatment of water. Due to the high photoactivity of the prepared titania membrane, this study reveals the possibility of combining two processes for removal of organic pollutants: the photocatalytic process and the membrane separation process. In the combining process the lifetime of the membrane increases and the quality of water is enhanced. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.