PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTICVITY OF TiO2-Eu2O3 PHOTOCATALYST FOR PHENOL DECOMPOSITON IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

Abstract

TiO2-Eu2O3 catalyst nanocomposite materials were synthesized from tetra-n-butyl orthotitanate, rare earth oxide Eu2O3 by a sol gel method, with a polyvinyl alcohol gel agent. Characteristic structures and properties were determined by infrared (IR) spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The composition and ingredients of TiO2-Eu2O3 and the Ti/Eu ratio were shown in the XRD diagram and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) fluorescence spectroscopy. The results of testing the photocatalytic properties of the material to treat phenol with a concentration of 10 ppm in water for processing efficiency reached over 90 %. The obtained materials, namely photochemical catalyst materials, can be applied in the field of enviromental treatment, especially photochemical catalytic decomposition catalysts in visible light to treat textile wastewater and organic pollutants in water, as well as bactericidal effects.