PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF CHLORINATED PHENOXYACETIC ACIDS BY A NEW BUOYANT TITANIA-EXFOLIATED GRAPHITE COMPOSITE PHOTOCATALYST

A new class of floating composite photocatalysts for water purificatio n is introduced. The composite material is comprised of exfoliated gra phite support, titania photocatalyst, and sol-gel-derived methyl silic ate binder. The catalyst composition was optimized for the degradation of rhodamine B dye. The photodegradation performance of the optimized catalyst was compared with supported titania film and P-25 titania su spension for the degradation of chlorophenoxyacetic acids. The photode gradation of the coated catalyst was between 50% and 95% of the activi ty of supported photocatalyst film.