Preparation of TiO2-polystyrene photocatalyst from waste material and its usability for removal of various pollutants

ALTIN İ., Sokmen M.

APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, vol.144, pp.694-701, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 144
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.06.014
  • Journal Name: APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.694-701
  • Keywords: Waste polystyrene, Photocatalytic degradation, Antimicrobial TiO2 immobilized, polystyrene, TIO2 THIN-FILMS, METHYLENE-BLUE, CR(VI), DEGRADATION, REDUCTION, POLYSTYRENE, SEMICONDUCTOR, OXIDATION, DECOLORIZATION, NANOCOMPOSITE
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The present study has concentrated on the immobilization of anatase titanium dioxide particles (TiO2, 44 nm particle size) on polystyrene (PS) by thermal attachment process. Waste PS particles were used as a support material. The photocatalytic properties of the produced material were tested for degradative removal of methylene blue, reductive removal of Cr(VI) as model pollutants and its antimicrobial properties were investigated using Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger as model microorganisms employing a near visible UV-A light (365 nm) source. Thus, TiO2 immobilized polystyrene beads seem to be highly promising for successful removal of studied pollutants. Additionally, effect of various experimental parameters such as pH, pollutant concentrations and catalyst mass has been evaluated as much as its stability and reusability. Control experiments indicated that employing neat PS in the presence and absence of light does not provide significant removal under the same condition. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.