Photodegradation of phenol under visible light using chabazite as a stabilizer in anatase TiO2

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis of copper doped TiO2 and the incorporation of zeolite by the sol–gel method. The obtained material had an admix of anatase and rutile phases, but incorporating zeolite leads to reaching just the anatase phase, that is, the zeolite stabilizes the anatase phase; however, it comes back to the admix phases when Cu is added in excess. The evaluation of the photocatalytic activity was using a phenol solution. The zeolite presence increased phenol adsorp-tion, helping the photocatalysis process by adsorbing more phenol quickly, allowing the TiO2 to act directly. The optimized percentage of zeolite was 1% (w/w), enhancing its photocatalytic activity under visible light compared to unmodified TiO2. The Cu dopant incorporation in TiO2 decreases its photoactivity in UV light but improves when it works under visible light. The optimal Cu incorporated on TiO2 was 1% Cu (w/w), increasing its photocatalytic activity under visible light.