Development of a TiO2/AC Composite Photocatalyst by Dry Impregnation for the Treatment of Methanol in Humid Airstreams

A dual-functional photocatalytic TiO2/AC composite was developed by dry impregnation for controlling pollutants through simultaneous adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation. Titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP), the precursor, was effectively converted to the anatase form of TiO2 on the carbon surface after hydrolysis and calcination. The composites, prepared using various hydrolysis and calcination conditions, were evaluated for their ability to remove methanol from humid air streams. The TiO2/AC composite hydrolyzed at 175 (degree)C for 2 h and calcined at 300 (degree)C in air for 2 h was more effective (58%) at removing methanol as compared to the composite prepared by boil deposition (35%). The experimental results demonstrated that a dry impregnation method is an effective method for preparing photocatalytic TiO2/AC composites.