TY - JOUR

T1 - Photodegradation of the herbicide imazapyr over mesoporous In2O3-TiO2 nanocomposites with enhanced photonic efficiency

AU - Kadi, M.W.

AU - Ismail, A.A.

AU - Mohamed, R.M.

AU - Bahnemann, D.W.

N1 - Funding information: This Project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia , under grant No. RG-18-130-38 . The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR for technical and financial support.

PY - 2018/10/31

Y1 - 2018/10/31

N2 - Mesoporous In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposites were successfully synthesized through sol gel approach in the presence of a suitable template. Their photonic efficiencies have been determined by measuring photooxidation of the herbicide imazapyr and compared with those of porous TiO 2 and of the commercial photocatalyst Hombikat UV-100. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the formation of tetragonal anatase and rutile phases of TiO 2. The highest photonic efficiency values of 13.5% were obtained for the 0.1% In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposite in comparison with a value of 12% for mesoporous TiO 2 and of 10.8% for commercial UV-100. As a result of the synergetic effect of TiO 2 (anatase and rutile) and In 2O 3 nanoparticles, it is suggested that heterostructured In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposites are formed and are promoting the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Moreover, the In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposites could be easily reused up to 5 times with only a slight decrease in their photocatalytic activity. The design for merging unique In 2O 3 nanoparticles with a mesoporous TiO 2 network can be regarded as an innovation to further promote the photocatalytic properties of the latter.

AB - Mesoporous In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposites were successfully synthesized through sol gel approach in the presence of a suitable template. Their photonic efficiencies have been determined by measuring photooxidation of the herbicide imazapyr and compared with those of porous TiO 2 and of the commercial photocatalyst Hombikat UV-100. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the formation of tetragonal anatase and rutile phases of TiO 2. The highest photonic efficiency values of 13.5% were obtained for the 0.1% In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposite in comparison with a value of 12% for mesoporous TiO 2 and of 10.8% for commercial UV-100. As a result of the synergetic effect of TiO 2 (anatase and rutile) and In 2O 3 nanoparticles, it is suggested that heterostructured In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposites are formed and are promoting the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Moreover, the In 2O 3-TiO 2 nanocomposites could be easily reused up to 5 times with only a slight decrease in their photocatalytic activity. The design for merging unique In 2O 3 nanoparticles with a mesoporous TiO 2 network can be regarded as an innovation to further promote the photocatalytic properties of the latter.

KW - Imazapyr

KW - In O -TiO nanocomposites

KW - Mesoporous

KW - Photocatalyst

KW - Photodegradation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047069299&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.seppur.2018.05.013

DO - 10.1016/j.seppur.2018.05.013

M3 - Article

VL - 205

SP - 66

EP - 73

JO - Separation and Purification Technology

JF - Separation and Purification Technology

SN - 1383-5866

ER -