Synthesis and adsorption activity of ТiО2/activated carbon composites

Abstract

A series of composites of TiO2/activated carbon has been synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. This series included five composites. The four composites were obtained by low- temperature hydrolysis, three of which were doped with fluorine in various ratios. The fifth composite was synthesized by direct precipitation. The adsorption activity of the composites has been studied toward glucose, phenol, cationic and anionic dyes. A significant increase of the adsorption capacity of all synthesized composites in comparing to the initial activated carbon has been found, despite its inner surface and porosity decreases due to modification. The observed increase of the adsorption activity is due to the fact; that adsorption on TiO2/activated carbon composites is accompanied by the simultaneous catalytic decomposition of adsorbed substances at the surface active centers, which are TiO2 particles.