Titanium dioxide/adsorbent hybrid photocatalysts for photodestruction of organic substances of dilute concentrations

Utilities of hybrid photocatalyst consisting of TiO2 and an adsorbent such as activated carbon in photoinduced mineralization of organic substances of very dilute present concentrations are demonstrated for the photodecomposi tion of propionaldehyde in air atmosphere. and propyzamide and bromoform di ssolved in water. The substrates of target were adsorbed on the adsorbent s upport, and then a high concentration environments of the substrate was for med around the loaded TiO2, resulting in an increase in the photodestructio n rare. Evidences for the diffusion of propionaldeyde adsorbed on the morde nite support to the loaded TiO2 are presented. Merits of the use of the ads orbents as the support for TiO2 loading is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.