Graphite-supported TiO2 for 4-nitrophenol degradation in a photoelectrocatalytic reactor

Palmisano G., Loddo V., El Nazer H. H., YURDAKAL S., Augugliaro V., Ciriminna R., ...More

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, vol.155, no.1-2, pp.339-346, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 155 Issue: 1-2
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.cej.2009.07.002
  • Journal Name: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.339-346
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Amorphous TiO2, prepared at room temperature through a sol-gel method implementing hydrolysis of TiCl4, has been supported on graphite rods and then annealed at 673 K. In this way graphite was completely covered by a porous anatase TiO2 layer, with an external thickness of about 1 mu m, with graphite pores completely filled by the semiconductor particles. The obtained electrode was structurally characterized by SEM microscopy coupled to EDAX mapping and by Raman spectroscopy. A Pyrex annular reactor was designed in order to test the prepared electrodes for the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol, a target pollutant dissolved in aqueous conductive solution. The continuous reactor worked in total recirculation mode and the degradation runs were carried out by applying near UV-light, bias or both energy sources. The influence of flow rate, initial 4-nitrophenol concentration and applied potential on the degradation rate was studied. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.