Degradation of Phenol by Titanium Dioxide Powders

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) powders were synthesized by hydrothermal route usingtitanium isopropoxide (Ti[OCH(CH3)2]4), ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and nitric acid(HNO3) as starting materials. The final pH of mixed solution was 1 and treated at 100 ??C for1 h in the hydrothermal vessel. The phase transition and morphology of TiO2 powders werestudied by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Singlephasewith anatase structure was obtained without calcination step. The average of particlesize was 0.5 ??m with agglomerate and irregular shape. The element chemical compositionsof TiO2 powders were determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). Theelement chemical compositions showed the characteristic X-ray energy levels of oxygen andtitanium. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol with TiO2 powders was investigated byUV/VIS Spectrophotometer.

Keywords: Titanium dioxide, phenol, hydrothermal route