Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of a novel composite photocatalyst: Ceria-coated activated carbon

摘要

In the present work, a novel composite photocatalyst ceria-coated activated carbon (CCAC) was prepared by a facile method. The composite photocataiyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). A synergy effect for 4-CP degradation was observed because the activated carbon (AC) with strong adsorbent activity provided sites for the adsorption of 4-CP. Then, the adsorbed 4-CP can migrate continuously onto the surface of ceria particles and then degraded at there. Hydroquinone(HQ) and benzoquinone (BQ) were found to be the main intermediates of the photocatalytic 4-CP degradation with ceria or CCAC by HPLC measurement. The results suggested that the same reaction mechanism occurred in the presence of ceria or titania.