Removal of As(III) from Water by Cellulase Templated TiO2: A Photocatalytic Oxidation Conjugated Adsorption Process

Abstract

TiO2 photocatalyst was prepared using cellulase as a biotemplate through a hydrothermal process. The as-prepared catalyst was characterized based on physicochemical techniques and was used to remove As(III) from contaminated water. The cellulase templated TiO2 photocatalyst (TiO2-cellulase) had a large specific surface area, which reached 166.6 m2·g–1. It also had a strong oxidation ability and, thus, behaved well in both photocatalytic oxidation of As(III) and dark adsorption. The pH of the solution had a negligible effect on the removal rate. TiO2-cellulase had a higher photocatalytic removal rate of As(III) than commercial Degussa P25 TiO2.