Effects of TiO2 coating dosage and operational parameters on a TiO2/Ag photocatalysis system for decolorizing Procion red MX-5B.

In this study, titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) powder was coated onto the surface of a dendritic silver (Ag) carrier to synthesize TiO(2)/Ag for decolorizing Procion red MX-5B (MX-5B), and related operation factors were also studied. The results showed that even without ultraviolet-A (UVA) irradiation, the Ag carrier from the TiO(2)/Ag catalyst had oxidizing ability, which could effectively degrade MX-5B color, but TiO(2) was ineffective. In addition, TiO(2) from TiO(2)/Ag demonstrated photocatalysis performance when irradiated, and the Ag carrier further showed an electron-scavenging ability to mitigate electron-hole pair recombination, which can improve the photocatalytic efficacy. With the oxidization and electron-scavenging ability of Ag and the photocatalysis ability of TiO(2), TiO(2)/Ag can decolor MX-5B more efficiently than TiO(2). The heavier Ag carrier also improves the solid-liquid separation of nano-TiO(2), making TiO(2)/Ag more suitable for application in slurry systems of photocatalytic water treatment. When the TiO(2)/Ag coating ratio was 50% by weight, there was a sufficient amount of TiO(2) on Ag's surface with a good distribution, and it exhibited a good photocatalysis decolorizing effect. In a study of how operational factors impact the decolorizing of MX-5B in the TiO(2)/Ag photocatalysis system with UVA irradiation (UVA-TiO(2)/Ag), the decolorization efficiency was optimal when the solution was maintained at pH 6.35. The addition of 0.01 M hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) aided the photocatalysis decolorization efficiency, although excessive H(2)O(2) reacted with hydroxyl free radicals and decreased the active groups in the system, thereby reducing the photocatalysis activity. An operating temperature of 40 degrees C was conducive to MX-5B decolorization, which was better than operating at room temperature.