Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and phenol using TiO₂/activated-carbon composite catalysts

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and phenol were conducted separately in aqueous solutions using titania-activated carbon composites. Activated carbon composites of different textural features and light of different wavelength or energy were used in order explore their effects on the performance of titania-activated carbon catalysts. The catalysts (TiAC1, TiAC2 and TiAC3) were prepared by impregnating activated carbon supports with an aqueous suspension of titanium precursor (TiO₂). The catalysts were characterized using BET, XRD and FTIR. The diffraction pattern showed strong peaks that are assigned to titanium anatase phase and weaker peaks that indicated low rutile phase. The FTIR showed broad peaks of Ti-O-Ti linkages in TiO₂ particles. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and phenol was performed separately in visible light and UV irradiation of different wavelengths. Adsorption was dominant in the case of methylene blue removal while photodecomposition was more pronounced in the case of phenol removal.