LAUSR

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous solutions was investigated using TiO2/SiO2 composites with different Ti/Si molar ratios (95/5(75/25) and calcined at 500 (C. The synthesized composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Their photocatalytic activities for phenol degradation were evaluated in a batch reactor under simulated visible light using a special 26 W compact lamp. The results showed that all synthesized composites consist of pure anatase phase with high crystallinity and exhibit high photocatalytic activities for phenol degradation. At the initial concentration 10 ppm phenol and catalyst dose 0.10 g/L, the highest photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation was observed with the synthesized TS05 composite (Ti/Si molar ratio of 95/5), resulting in 53.5 % phenol degradation yield after 4 h. The corresponding phenol degradation yields using the synthesized composites TS15 (Ti/Si molar ratio of 85/15) was ~ 40.0 % and TS25 ((Ti/Si molar ratio of 75/25) was ~ 36.0 %. The TS05 composite could be a promising photocatalyst for the removal and degradation of organic pollutants.