Preparation of composite TiO2-zeolite sheets using a papermaking technique and their application to environmental improvement. Part I. Removal of acetaldehyde with and without UV irradiation

Abstract

Composite titanium dioxide (TiO2)-zeolite sheets were prepared using a papermaking technique and were tested with regard to their ability to remove acetaldehyde, which is often used as a typical volatile organic compound. It was demonstrated that the composite TiO2-zeolite sheet could remove acetaldehyde much more effectively under UV irradiation than a sheet of TiO2 alone. Acetaldehyde removal by a composite TiO2-zeolite sheet with a TiO2/zeolite ratio of 1 : 4 was particularly effective under the conditions adopted in this work although the composite sheet contained only one fifth of the amount of TiO2 in the TiO2 sheet. Additionally, the combination of TiO2 and zeolite was a useful method to solve the disadvantage of adsorbents, which were the decrease of the performance when the material was saturated or equilibrated with the adsorbates. Consequently, a composite TiO2-zeolite sheet can be utilized as a high functional material to prevent environmental pollution.