Photocatalytic degradation of oil film floating on water by TiO2 immobilized on expanded perlite

The preparation condition for the photocatalyst with TiO2 immobilized on ex panded perlite TiO2/ EP and the photocatalytic degradation process of oil f ilm floating on water were discussed. The floating property of the photocat alyst was also investigated. The photocatalyst TiO2/EP was characterized by SEM, BET and the determination of TiO2 amount. The degradation efficiency of decane, a model substance of oil on water, was studied with irradiation by sunlight. The decane remaining in the solution phase and on the photocat alyst was analyzed by GC. It was observed that about 95% of decane was degr aded within 7 h. The results showed that the TiO2/EP photocatalyst can floa t on water for a long time. The mechanism of concentration and then photoca talytic degradation of the floating oil on the photocatalyst was proposed.