Title: Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants using titanium dioxide supported by mesoporous silica

Authors: Mishal W. Ibrahim; Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi; Hendrik Kosslick; Axel Schulz

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, College of Pure Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq ' Technical Institute of Baquba, Middle Technical University, Baquba, Dayala, Iraq; Technical Instructor Training Institute, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq ' Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany ' Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

Abstract: This study focuses on presenting a promising route for the synthesis of mesoporous silica, which is an ideal support for nano-crystalline TiO₂. To systematically conduct this research, several weight percentages of 10%, 20%, 30% and 50wt% of TiO₂ in TiO₂ - SiO₂ composites are prepared. The microscopic and spectroscopic specifications of core/shell structure of silicon oxide and titanium dioxide (SiO₂/TiO₂) are investigated. Specifically, the core/shell specifications are evaluated using N₂ isotherm, diffusive reflective UV-Vis spectroscopy (DRUV-Vis), Sax xrd and imaged using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). More importantly, the photocatalytic potential of the nanostructures TiO₂ - SiO₂ composites is evaluated via the photo-degradation of ibuprofen (IBP) as a dispensed model of contaminant. In this respect, the IBP decomposition and hydrogen generation are also utilised to assess the photocatalytic potential of the nanostructures. As a result, an enhanced photo-activity of (SiO₂/TiO₂) is affirmed via a simple comparison against the commercial TiO₂-Degussa P25 catalyst. More importantly, ibuprofen photo degradation efficiency is highest with a photocatalyst having 20% TiO₂ and 80% mesoporous silica.

Keywords: titanium dioxide photocatalysts (TiO₂ P25); mesoporous silica; TiO₂ - SiO₂ composites; photo degradation; ibuprofen (IBP); scanning electron microscopy; SEM; transmission electron microscopy; TEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2023.133376

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2023 Vol.14 No.3, pp.258 - 274

Received: 27 Aug 2022
Accepted: 21 Oct 2022
Published online: 14 Sep 2023 *

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