SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES COATED ON FLY ASH

Abstract

Titanium dioxide ( TiO 2) nanoparticles in the anatase phase were coated on fly ash by using a sol–gel method. The TiO 2 nanoparticles coated on fly ash were produced from titanium tetraisopropoxide ( Ti ( OPr i )4 3.3 M ) in absolute ethanol, and the fly ash was added into this alcoholic solution. The ratio of TiO 2 nanoparticles to fly ash in the coating process was 1:10 by weight. The ethanolic solution was loaded into a pouch type cellophane membrane and placed for 1 h in a clear solution which containing 1:1 (v/v) ratio of absolute ethanol and distilled water with 0.5–1% concentrated (25%) ammonia solution. After the dialysis process was completed, the mixture was then allowed to dry in an oven at 100–110°C and was calcined in a furnace over the temperatures range of 400–800°C. TiO 2 nanoparticles were then analyzed and characterized by using the techniques of XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, and BET. The crystalline sizes of anatase form were found to be in the range of 15–20 nm. The characteristics of TiO 2 nanoparticles coated on fly ash were further investigated by utilizing SEM and EDS methodologies. The correlations among crystalline phase, particle size, morphology, and specific surface area were investigated.