CuO/WO3/TiO2 photocatalyst for degradation of phenol wastewater

Abstract

CuO/WO3/TiO2 photocatalyst was prepared by applying the sol-gel combustion method. It was characterized by X-Ray uorescence spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, porosimetry, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The activity of CuO/WO3/TiO2 was investigated for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol wastewater. Operating conditions of batch experiments, such as initial concentration of phenol, photocatalyst dose, amount of H2O2, and pH, were optimized. Rate constants of the pseudo first-order reaction for several photocatalysts were determined (TiO2: 0.0054 min-1, WO3/TiO2: 0.0071 min-1, CuO/TiO2: 0.0118 min-1, CuO/WO3/TiO2: 0.0621 min-1). The CuO/WO3/TiO2 had the best performance, and its rate constant was 11.5 times greater than TiO2. The CuO/WO3/TiO2 activity was considerable under sun light. The activity of CuO/WO3/TiO2 for 4-chlorophenol and 3-phenyl-1-propanol degradation was also successful.