Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by composite TiO_2-diatomite sheets under UV irradiation

摘要

Titanium dioxide (TiO_2) photocatalyst and diatomite adsorbent were made into a paper-like composite by a papermaking technique using pulp and ceramic fibers as sheet matrix. Simulated wastewaters that contain methylene blue (MB) bleached in photocatalytic TiO_2-diatomite sheet was investigated under UV irradiation. The TiO_2-diatomite sheet could remove the MB from water completely under UV irradiation. The characteristics of composite sheets were studied by XRD and SEM techniques. It was found that the composite TiO_2-dioatomite composite sheet could be utilized semi-permanently and was easier to handle than the original TiO_2 powders in aqueous media. Consequently, a composite TiO_2-diatomite sheet can be utilized as a high functional material to photodegradate organic pollution.