The efficiency of TiO2/zeolites for photocatalytic degradation of different pollutants from aqueous solution

Abstract

This work presents synthesis and characterization of hybrid photocatalysts based on commercial TiO2 nanoparticles and mixed shape nanocrystals obtained from TiO2 nanotubes and zeolites, natural (clinoptilolite) and synthetic (ZSM-5 and 13X). Furthermore, their efficiency towards the removal of different contaminates such as atenolol (ATL) and bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solution as well as herbicides from pesticide factory’s wastewater was investigated using multianalytical approach. Hybrid photocatalysts were made by simple and cost-effective solid-state dispersion method. The prepared materials were characterized by the X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and SEM-EDS technique. Successful removal of ATL, BPA and herbicides was accomplished in the presence of the prepared materials. The most efficient hybrid photocatalysts proved to be the ones based on ZSM-5 zeolite: complete ATL removal was achieved after 70 minutes of simulated sun irradiation and removal of over 60 % of detected herbicides was reached after 3 h of simulated sun irradiation.