Preparation of TiO2/Sponge Composite for Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

Zhao, Tianyu; Cheng, Hao; Liang, Yinna; Xiong, Jianhua; Zhu, Hongxiang; Wang, Shuangfei; Liang, Jiaxiang; Chen, Guoning

Preparation of TiO2/Sponge Composite for Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

2020

Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising approach for treating environmental pollution. In this study, TiO₂/sponge composites with good photocatalytic activity in visible light were prepared via a simple and efficient low-temperature process and applied to the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) present in papermaking wastewater. The process conditions for preparing TiO₂/sponge composites were optimized by varying the TiO₂ dosage, cellulose dosage, and surfactant concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results showed that TiO₂ successfully adhered to the sponge surface and that the composites achieved a good recycling effect. Degradation occurred under visible light, and a degradation rate of 81% for 2,4,6-TCP with initial concentration of 20 mg/L was achieved in 4 h. The fragments were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), which revealed the formation of 2-hydroxyvaleric acid (2-HVA) as a degradation product; a possible degradation mechanism is proposed to interpret these findings. Visible-light photocatalysis shows high potential for the rapid and environmentally friendly destruction of organic pollutants in papermaking wastewater.

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