Photocatalytic degradation of dyes on a magnetically separated photocatalyst under visible and UV irradiation

A novel kind of magnetically separable photocatalyst of TiO2/SiO2/γ-Fe2O3 (TSF) is prepared. Scanning tunnel microscope (STM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterize the structure of the photocatalyst. In the TSF photocatalyst, a TiO2 shell is for photocatalysis, a γ-Fe2O3 core as a carrier is for separation by the magnetic field and a SiO2 membrane between the TiO2 shell and the γ-Fe2O3 core is used to weaken the adverse influence of γ-Fe2O3 on the photocatalysis of TiO2. Three kinds of dyes, Fluoresein, Orange II and Red acid G, were used to examine the photocatalytic activity of TSF. Due to strong UV adsorption of the γ-Fe2O3, the photocatalytic activity of TSF was lower than that of the pure TiO2. Deducting the light absorption of the γ-Fe2O3 particles, the photocatalytic activity of TSF was found to be higher than that of the P25 under UV irradiation. On the other hand, the photocatalytic activity of TSF under visible irradiation was much lower than that of the P25 TiO2 even deducting the visible light absorption of the γ-Fe2O3 particles. Differences in the photocatalytic mechanisms under UV and visible irradiation lead to the differences in the photodegradation characteristics of dyes on TSF. The recycled TSF exhibited a good repeatability of photocatalytic activity.