Formic Acid Decomposition Using Synthesized Ag/TiO2 Nanocomposite in Ethanol-Water Media Under Illumination of Near UV Light

Pipelzadeh, E.; Valizadeh Derakhshan, M.; Babaluo, A. A.; Haghighi, M.; Tavakoli, A.

Formic Acid Decomposition Using Synthesized Ag/TiO2 Nanocomposite in Ethanol-Water Media Under Illumination of Near UV Light

Authors

E. Pipelzadeh

M. Valizadeh Derakhshan

A. A. Babaluo

M. Haghighi

A. Tavakoli

Chemical engineering department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, I.R. Iran Nanostructure material research center (NMRC), Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, I.R. Iran

Abstract

The effect of ethanol-water media on the synthesis of Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite was investigated with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 (wt.%) of Ag content. Ethanol was used as hole-scavenger enhancing the photodecomposition of Ag+ ions under illumination of near-UV light. The nanocomposites were further calcined to 300˚C and 400˚C under controlled atmosphere. The synthesized nanocomposites were tested for photocatalytic efficiency decomposing formic acid as an organic pollutant under irradiation of a 4W near UV lamp with lmax at 365nm and the results were compared with that of non-modified commercially available Degussa TiO2 (P25). The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using XRD and SEM micrographs. The photocatalytic studies have revealed a constant overall performance for all synthesized nanocomposites. The initial rate of decomposition was observed to increase with decreasing Ag content, in the case of 0.05 wt.% having the best initial rate. Calcination of the nanocomposites was found to have activating properties on the synthesized nanocomposites where nanocomposite with 0.05 (wt.%) Ag content calcined at 300°C was distinctively advantageous overother calcined nanocomposites.

Keywords

Nanocomposite

TiO2

Calcination

photocatalytic activity

Ethanol-water media