Low-cost ternary composite photocatalysts consisting of TiO2, kaolinite and cement for an efficient organic waste decontamination in water

Kohobhange Karunadasa, Pannilage Madhushanka, Chinthan Manoratne

Article ID: 4510
Vol 7, Issue 1, 2024

VIEWS - 1896 (Abstract)

Abstract


The present study demonstrates the fabrication of heterogeneous ternary composite photocatalysts consisting of TiO2, kaolinite, and cement (TKCe),which is essential to overcome the practical barriers that are inherent to currently available photocatalysts. TKCe is prepared via a cost-effective method, which involves mechanical compression and thermal activation as major fabrication steps. The clay-cement ratio primarily determines TKCe mechanical strength and photocatalytic efficiency, where TKCe with the optimum clay-cement ratio, which is 1:1, results in a uniform matrix with fewer surface defects. The composites that have a clay-cement ratio below or above the optimum ratio account for comparatively low mechanical strength and photocatalytic activity due to inhomogeneous surfaces with more defects, including particle agglomeration and cracks. The TKCe mechanical strength comes mainly from clay-TiO2 interactions and TiO2-cement interactions. TiO2-cement interactions result in CaTiO3 formation, which significantly increases matrix interactions; however, the maximum composite performance is observed at the optimum titanate level; anything above or below this level deteriorates composite performance. Over 90% degradation rates are characteristic of all TKCe, which follow pseudo-first-order kinetics in methylene blue decontamination. The highest rate constant is observed with TKCe 1-1, which is 1.57 h−1 and is the highest among all the binary composite photocatalysts that were fabricated previously. The TKCe 1-1 accounts for the highest mechanical strength, which is 6.97 MPa, while the lowest is observed with TKCe 3-1, indicating that the clay-cement ratio has a direct relation to composite strength. TKCe is a potential photocatalyst that can be obtained in variable sizes and shapes, complying with real industrial wastewater treatment requirements.


Keywords


TiO2; kaolinite; cement; composite photocatalyst; industrial wastewater treatment

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jpse.v7i1.4510

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