A Novel Vermiculite/TiO2 Composite: Synergistic Mechanism of Enhanced Photocatalysis towards Organic Pollutant Removal

Abstract

There has been increasing concern over water pollution, which poses a threat to human life and health. Absorption by low-cost absorbents is considered to be a cost-effective and efficient route. However, the non-reusability of absorbents greatly limits their applications. In this study, a novel vermiculite/TiO2 composite combining the inexpensive absorbent with the commonly used photocatalyst was firstly synthesized via the sol-gel method. On the one hand, the organic pollutants are absorbed by vermiculite and then decomposed through the photocatalysis process, enabling the next round of absorption and creating an absorption–decomposition reusable cycle. On the other hand, the modulation effect of optical and electronic structure on the prepared TiO2 photocatalyst by the vermiculite incorporation could significantly improve the photocatalytic activity and eventually enhance the aforementioned cyclic degradation capacity. The layer-structured vermiculite (Vt) supports a uniform coverage of TiO2 at an optimized ratio, providing an optimal adsorption environment and contact area between the photocatalyst and methylene blue (MB) molecules. Vt/TiO2 heterojunction is formed with Si-O-Ti bonding, at which electrons transfer from Vt to TiO2, enriching electron density in TiO2 and favoring its photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the incorporation of Vt increases the light absorption of TiO2 in the visible range by narrowing the optical band gap to 1.98 eV, which could promote the generation of photo-excited carriers. In addition, PL measurements revealed that the carrier recombination is substantially suppressed, and the charge separation and migration are greatly enhanced by a factor of 3. As a result, the decomposition rate of MB is substantially increased 5.3-fold, which is ascribed to the synergistic effects of the elevated photocatalysis and the large absorption capacity governed by the chemisorption mechanism of the intra-particle diffusion. These results pave the way for composite design towards efficient, economical, and pragmatic water pollution treatment.

Straw-Derived Activated Carbon Decorated with Ag3PO4 for Organic Pollutant Removal by a Circular Degradation Mechanism: Adsorption and Photocatalysis

“…This highlights the nuanced dependency of photocatalytic efficiency on the specific Ag 3 PO 4 concentration in the composites. AC, serving as a support carrier within composites, significantly enhanced performance . Its robust adsorption properties effectively concentrated dye molecules near photocatalytic sites, shortening the light response time and increasing the interaction area with contaminants.…”

“…AC, serving as a support carrier within composites, significantly enhanced performance. 29 Its robust adsorption properties effectively concentrated dye molecules near photocatalytic sites, shortening the light response time and increasing the interaction area with contaminants. Furthermore, AC’s high adsorption capacity reduced the concentration of methylene blue in solution, thereby improving light transmittance and creating optimal photocatalytic conditions for Ag 3 PO 4 .…”

“…Moreover, many degradation technologies perform well under laboratory conditions but experience a decrease in effectiveness in actual environments due to issues such as material agglomeration and challenges in regeneration. Additionally, factors like water quality and temperature can also impact performance . For instance, in turbid water conditions, light cannot penetrate the water to reach the surface of the catalyst, significantly reducing the efficiency of photocatalysis .…”

“…Additionally, factors like water quality and temperature can also impact performance. 29 For instance, in turbid water conditions, light cannot penetrate the water to reach the surface of the catalyst, significantly reducing the efficiency of photocatalysis. 30 A plethora of research has been undertaken to investigate the capabilities of activated carbon derived from various biomass and organic substances.…”