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 significant 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 efficiency. Both binders formed UV light active materials with sufficient displacement strength for photocatalysis use.

ABSTRACT Three different bismuth catalysts (Bi2WO6, BiOI and BiVO4) were synthesized using solvo- and hydrothermal methods. Different reaction times, calcination and the addition of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) during synthesis were tested to investigate the effect of these variables on the catalysts’ morphology and photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using the degradation of rhodamine B dye under both visible light and natural solar radiation. The Bi2WO6 samples presented good crystallinity and morphological similarities, despite having undergone different treatments. The BiOI and Bi2WO6 catalysts presented a spherical shape, and no morphological difference was observed as a result of the addition of PVP. The BiVO4 sample presented a parallelepiped shape. BiOI containing PVP and ethylene glycol was the catalyst that presented the highest activity, while BiVO4 presented the lowest. In experiments using scavengers, photogenerated holes demonstrated a key role in dye degradation.

A reação de degradação fotocatalítica do estireno foi estudada utilizando-se TiO2 P-25 (Degussa) como catalisador. Os experimentos foram realizados em um reator "slurry" em bateladas, com controle de temperatura, empregando-se uma lâmpada UV. Foram estudados os efeitos do pH, da concentração inicial de estireno, da concentração do catalisador e da adição de H2O2 sobre a velocidade da reação. Os resultados mostraram que, em 90 min, cerca de 95% da quantidade inicial da molécula foi consumida por fotocatálise. Verificou-se também que a reação segue uma cinética de primeira ordem para concentrações iniciais de estireno, entre 15,27 e 57,25 ppm, a 30ºC. A análise cromatográfica das amostras coletadas durante os experimentos de fotodegradação identificou o benzaldeído como um dos intermediários dessa reação. Além disso, a adição de H2O2 aumentou a velocidade de degradação.

The aqueous styrene photocatalytic degradation reaction was evaluated using TiO2 P-25 (Degussa) as a catalyst. These experiments were accomplished in a batch slurry reactor with temperature control and a UV lamp. The effects of the initial styrene concentration, the catalyst concentration, the hydrogen peroxide addition and the initial pH of the solution on the reaction were evaluated. The experimental results showed that in 90 min, 95% of the initial styrene was degraded by photocatalysis. It was verified that the styrene degradation rate fits a pseudo-first-order kinetics for initial styrene concentrations between 15.27 and 57.25 ppm, at 30ºC. The chromatographic analysis of the samples collected during the photocatalytic degradation revealed benzaldehyde as one of the intermediates. The addition of H2O2 accelerated the degradation reaction until the system reached a certain optimum peroxide concentration in the reactor. Further H2O2 additions resulted in a reaction rate reduction.