Removal of an organic pollutant from waste water by photocatalytic behavior of AgX/TiO_2 loaded on mordenite nanocrystals

摘要

Mordenite (MOR) nanocrystals were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Sol-gel and deposition methods were utilized to modify the zeolite surface with TiO_2 and then AgBr or AgCl particles. Photocatalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Activity was evaluated by photodegradation of Acid Blue 92 as an azo dye. The effect of silver halide deposition on the photo-catalytic behavior of the prepared nanocomposites was studied under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, and the results were compared. The results showed that AgCl/TiO_2/MOR was more active under UV, while with visible source, AgBr/TiO2/ MOR exhibited better photocatalytic performance. A mechanism for the reaction is also proposed.