Elaboración de un fotocatalizador flotante basado en un composito de TiO2/aglomerado para tratamiento de contaminantes orgánicos usando luz solar

Floating photocatalysts have caused interest due to the benefits they provide. For example, the floating support has characteristic lightness and flexibility; while the photocatalyst has the advantage of being able to interact with sunlight without the need of stirring or oxygenation. In this paper, a floating photocatalyst based on a TiO2/ agglomerate composite is evaluated. The agglomerate is made from post-consumer packaging of multilayer containers. The catalyst was prepared by synthesizing of titanium dioxide powders with phase mixture anatase/rutile. The photocatalyst powder was attached to substrate surface using a varnish obtained by dissolving post-consumer polystyrene containers in toluene. The photocatalyst has different phase A-R (Anatase-Rutile) ratios. The approximate size of the nanostructure is 13.29 ± 3.28 nm, calculated using UV-Vis spectroscopy, the bandgap has values ranging from 2.56 eV to 2.90 Ev. The agglomerates have a rupture modulus of 14.95 N/mm2; they are hydrophobic materials and possess dimensional stability against changes in humidity (length) less than 10%, chemical resistance, are flame retardant. The TiO2/agglomerate composite is used for the photocatalytic degradation of a model pollutant (methylene blue) using sunlight.