Photocatalytic detoxification with TiO2 supported on glass-fibre by using artificial and natural light

The preparation of TiO2 supported on glass-fibre by sol-gel method is prese nted. We investigated the influence of thermal treatment time on specific s urface, crystallinity and photocatalytic activity of the semiconductor for the degradation of a model pollutant: the benzamide. We have evaluated the photocatalytic activity of this supported catalyst (TiO2-FG) with the labor atory reactor and the CPC reactor. The best activity results have been achi eved through a 500 degrees C treatment lasting 20 h. These conditions have been applied to prepare TiO2 supported on glass-fibre. We have shown that t he same catalyst can be reused several times. The supported catalysts have a good photocatalytic activity towards benzamide. However, the evolution of total organic carbon (TOC) from the test with TiO2-FG is very slow. This o bservation carries out that the degradation process is not the same as that with the classical TiO2-P25. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.