Microwave-assisted preparation of TiO₂/activated carbon composite photocatalyst for removal of methanol in humid air streams

TiO₂/activated carbon composite photocatalyst combines the photocatalytic reactivity of TiO₂ and the adsorption ability of activated carbon. TiO₂/activated carbon composite photocatalyst was prepared from 2-propanol solution of titanium isopropoxide via microwave-assisted impregnation method. The advantage of microwave-assisted preparation of TiO₂/activated carbon is the use of activated carbon as the coupling agent for microwave. In this way, heat-enhanced processes including desorption, hydrolysis, and crystallization are favored, eventually leading to quick formation of crystallized TiO₂. The effect of different preparation conditions has been studied. TiO₂ is coated on the activated carbon and anatase phase has been obtained after 20 min of medium level microwave irradiation. The photocatalytic activity is evaluated by the removal of methanol in humid air. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 230th ACS National Meeting (Washington, DC 8/28/2005-9/1/2005).