Photocatalytic Degradation of Gaseous 1,2-Dichlorobenzene over TiO2/AC Photocatalysts

Using commercially available activated carbon (AC) as a carrier, photocatalysts of activated carbon-supported TiO2 (TiO2/AC) with different specific surface areas and TiO2 loading contents were prepared by the sol-gel method. Nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to obtain the performance parameters of the TiO2/AC catalysts. The photocatalytic performance of the TiO2/AC catalysts was studied by using gaseous 1,2-dichlorobenzene. The influence of catalyst dose, specific surface area, and gaseous 1,2-dichlorobenzene concentration on this photodegradation was investigated. The results show that a nano-TiO2 deposit was formed with a particle size of approximately 10 nm. The loading of TiO2 onto the AC with a large specific surface area enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 photocatalysis with regard to the degradation of gaseous 1,2-dichlorobenzene. We show that TiO2/AC catalysts have a synergetic effect on AC adsorption and TiO2 photocatalysis during the degradation of gaseous 1,2-dichlorobenzene by comparing the photocatalytic performance of a commercial P25 catalyst and TiO2/AC catalysts.