Application of polycarboxylic acids as binders for TiO2 immobilization on cotton textiles

Abstract

Immobilizing the photocatalyst on a support is an alternative solution to a critical issue in photocatalysis, which is the need for unit operations to remove the photocatalyst from the effluent. In this work, TiO2 was immobilized onto a cotton textile substrate by polycarboxylic acid binders (succinic and citric acids) using a solution deposition method, and the most appropriate conditions for pre-treatment and the relationship between variables were determined by an experimental design. Then, samples prepared at optimum conditions were exposed to UV for an extended period of time to evaluate the deactivation. The results showed an increase in photocatalytic activity and deposited mass by raising curing temperature, a statistically signifcant variable for tested binders. However, the increase in photocatalyst mass deposition is not always followed by an increase in photocatalytic activity, indicating that the photocatalyst distribution on the substrate is also important for photocatalytic effciency. Both binders formed UV light active materials with suffcient displacement strength for photocatalysis use.