The Renewable of Low Toxicity Gelcasting Porous Ceramic as Fe2O3 Catalyst Support on Phenol Photodegradation

Abstract

Low toxicity gelcasting water-based method was conducted using a non-acrylamide system, with cassava starch and natural clay as poregenic agent and raw material, respectively, and the resulting porous ceramic was used as Fe2O3 catalyst support. The concentrations of cassava starch used were 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, the sintering process was performed based on the results of TGA/DTA thermal analysis. In addition, the sol-gel coating method was used to impregnate the Fe2O3 catalyst into the porous ceramic. BET results show that the pores formed in the ceramic body are micro pores with a size range of 21.41-23.27 Å, hence the concentration of cassava starch does not affect the pore characteristics. The morphology of SEM results also indicated the presence of pore formation in the ceramic body. According to the quantitative XRD analysis, the cassava concentration affects the percentage of catalyst impregnated. The highest percentage of Fe2O3 catalyst on 7% cassava starch was 41.15% and the phase of the catalyst successfully impregnated was α-Fe2O3with a rhombohedral structure. In addition, the highest percentage of phenol degradation was 59.15% with good performance after 8 times of recycling. In this study, we provide for the first time, utilization of Fe2O3-porous ceramics with a wonderful performance of recycling ability in the process of phenol photodegradation.

Preparation and Characterization of CuO/Clay Composite for Methyl Orange Photodegradation

“…Table 3 shows that the impregnation of CuO catalyst against clay was successful, where the surface area of the sample increased and the pore volume decreased after impregnation of the catalyst. The same results was observed by previous studies that carried out impregnation of Fe2O3 metal into porous ceramic support [17] and impregnation of Cu,Fe,Zn metal into HZSM-5 zeolite [32]. BET surface area; b Micropore surface area evaluated by t-plot method; c Mesopore surface area calculated using SBET-Smicro; d Total pore volume at P/Po ~ 0.99; e Micropore volume calculated by t-plot method; f Mesopore volume calculated using Vtotal-Vmicro; g Pore distribution based on BJH analysis.…”

“…Besides, this method is a quick, affordable, and simple to use for industrial-scale dye removal. The widely used metal oxides such as TiO2 [16], Fe2O3 [17], ZnO [18], NiO [19], and so on. The photocatalytic efficiency, which is based on the complete UV spectrum, is quite low and unstable despite their comparatively high band gap energies.…”

Effect of Sintering Temperature on the Microstructure Behavior of Gelcasted Porous Ceramics Using Cassava Starch as Pore Template

“…Porous ceramics provide the opportunity to combine high porosity with crucial properties such as high thermal conductivity, high strength, and chemical stability, which are essential for industrial applications and development. The implementation of the materials includes catalytic support [1][2], removal of heavy metal ions or azo dyes from wastewater [3][4], thermal insulators [5], combustion analyzers [6], and membrane for microfiltration [7]. However, due to pricey raw materials and production techniques, the usage of porous ceramics in more widespread applications is restricted [8].…”

“…Gelcasting is one method of shaping process that is entirely developed with basic principles of in-situ polymerization of monomers in a ceramic slurry, creating a strong, cross-linked polymersolvent gel that acts as a pore template [16]. Our previous research produced porous ceramic by the gelcasting method, and the material has good properties (high porosity with high ceramic body strength) as adsorbent for azo dyes [2]. In addition, Han et al [17] also produced a porous ceramic body with good thermal conductivity for heat insulation applications.…”

“…As for the use of cassava starch as a pore template, we have observed previously. The resulting porous ceramics can be used as catalyst support [26]. In addition, Barros Calado et al [27] using a combination of sunflower oil as a gelling agent and starch consolidation, reported that the manufacturing methods were effective in the production of cellular porous ceramics with low energy, low amounts of gelling agent and low environmental costs.…”