Preparation of titanium dioxide supported on activated carbon

Abstract

The purpose of this research work was to synthesize titanium dioxide supported on activated carbon and used it as a catalyst for dye decolorisation. The effect of preparing factors on titanium dioxide supported on activated carbon, such as calcinations temperature and the amount of carbon supports were investigated at 300, 400 and 500OC and in range of 5-30 percent by weight, respectively. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was used to detect the crystal structure of prepared catalysts. It was found that all peaks were anatase phase. The morphology of these catalysts was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques. The results showed regularly distribution of titanium dioxide supported on activated carbon. The particle size of obtained catalysts was 5-10 nm. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique was analyzed physical characteristic of catalysts. The specific surface area, average pore diameter , and pore volume of catalysts was 151.02-784.13 m2/g , 26.94-64.35 and 0.24-0.55 cm3/g, respectively. Furthermore, the activity of obtained catalyst was carried out by using these catalysts to decolourise dye aqueous solution. The titanium dioxide supported on activated carbon 20 percent by weight can obtain 99.78% decolourisation at dye concentration 75 mg/L, catalyst concentration 0.5 g/L within 90 minute. Comparison with titanium dioxide P25 (commercial grade), titanium dioxide supported on activated carbon has higher ability. This is because it was not only photocatalytic reaction but it was also absorption