Agricultural Waste As Silica Source In Tio2/Sio2 Synthesis For Photocatalytic Degradation Of Dye Compounds

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of semiconductor material which has been used as photocatalyst that has very good potency to oxidize some hazardous organic compounds like dye waste, medical and pharmacological waste, and etc. Although TiO2 has high oxidation capacity for photocatalytic degradation, it has some deficiencies which can limit its application as photocatalyst. Those deficiencies are TiO2 is easily agglomerated, its charge carrier is conveniently formed as recombination, and it has low surface area. This article provides a review of a composite which consists of TiO2 as the dispersed phase and SiO2 as the matrix, this composite has better photacatalytic performance than TiO2 itself. SiO2 can increase the surface area of TiO2, prevent the agglomeration of TiO2 particle, and avoid the recombination of TiO2’s charge carrier. Consequently, it can improve the ability of TiO2 to do photocatalytic degradation. Agricultural wastes that consist of high silica content is potentially used as the resource of SiO2 in this composite and biosilica that is produced from natural waste has biocompatible and biodegradable properties. This article also provides it’s application for various dye photocatalytic degradation.