Thermo-photocatalytic degradation of benzene on Pt-loaded TiO2/ZrO2

• Published in: Journal of molecular catalysis. A, Chemical Vol. 358; pp. 31 - 37
• Main Authors: Ren, Chengjun, Liu, Xiangjun, Wang, Guangping, Miao, Shang, Chen, Yaoqiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-06-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Benzene; Catalysis; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Photochemistry; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Synergetic effect; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Thermo-photocatalysis; TiO2/ZrO2; Synergetic effect; Pt; TiO2/ZrO2; Benzene; Thermo-photocatalysis; Binary compound; Hydrocarbon; Photocatalysis; Transition element compounds; Transition metal; Supported catalyst; Heterogeneous catalysis; Zirconium oxide; Platinum; ZrO; TiO; Titanium oxide; Photochemical degradation; Thermal degradation
• ISSN: 1381-1169; 1873-314X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2012.02.007

This observation revealed that the kinetic constant of thermo-photocatalysis was higher than the rate constant sum of the photocatalytic and the thermocatalytic reaction. It suggested that there be a synergetic effect between photocatalytic and thermocatalytic reactions. [Display omitted]
► Easy reduction of Pt4+ at room temperature. ► Minor difference of Pt0 content, however, noticeable difference of activity. ► An obvious synergetic effect between photocatalytic and thermocatalytic reactions. ► A mechanism proposed about thermo-photocatalysis.
A TiO2/ZrO2 powder was prepared using TiOSO4 and ZrOCO3 through a homogeneous co-precipitation process. The Pt-loaded TiO2/ZrO2 catalyst was obtained by loading Pt onto the powder via an incipient wetness approach. The catalyst samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, degree of dispersion, N2 adsorption–desorption (BET) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the catalytic activity was significantly affected by Pt loadings, reduction temperatures and the reaction temperatures. A synergetic effect took place between photocatalytic and thermocatalytic reactions when benzene was engaged in the thermo-photocatalytic degradation. For 80mgm−3 benzene, the kinetic constant of thermo-photocatalysis was 1.26, 1.64, 2.15 and 2.93 times higher than these ones of single photocatalysis, when 90°C, 120°C, 150°C and 180°C was applied to the reaction, respectively. The rate constant at 150°C, presented by the thermo-photocatalytic reaction, was 2 times higher than it was obtained from the photocatalytic reaction, under various experiment conditions. It was also found that, highly concentrated benzene, in a concentration of 1000mgm−3, was degraded effectively by thermo-photocatalysis and the mineralization rate reached 90.3% within 16h. The thermo-photocatalytic technique was considered to have practical application foreground in the degradation of highly concentrated benzene.