Recyclable thin TiO2-embedded rubber sheet and dye degradation

Abstract

A new method for the preparation of thin rubber sheet embedded with TiO2 from natural rubber latex is presented. This method – simple and inexpensive – is based on the use of TiO2 powder (Degussa P25) mixing with small amount of natural rubber latex (60% HA) followed by vacuum filtration through a sintered glass to form a thin paper-like and flexible sheet. The characteristic of this thin and flexible TiO2 sheet (FT sheet) thus formed was studied by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDS) techniques. The photocatalytic activity of FT sheet was evaluated using indigo carmine (IC) dye as a model for the organic dye pollutant in water. The results showed that the FT sheet containing TiO2 5wt% has the highest degradation efficiency than sheets containing higher TiO2 concentrations. The effects of pH and initial concentration of dye solution on the photodegradation were also investigated. Kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation was of the first-order reaction. The used FT sheet can be recovered and reused with no decline in the photodegradation efficiency over a long-term usage.